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THE LIFE 



GREGORY LOPEZ, 



A HERMIT IN AMERICA. 



" For many years I despaired of finding- any inhabitant of Great Britain, 
that could stand in any degree of comparison with Gregory Lopez. 

Rev. John Wesley. 



NEW-YORK. 
PUBLISHED BY JOHN EYRE, 

AND SOLD AT 

FALSOM'S BOOK STORE, 40 FULTON ST. 

1841 






.Lis Li*3 



flERCY & REED, PRINTERS. 






LC Control Number 




tmp96 027335 



W 7 > 



PREFACE 



M 



The Life of Gregory Lopez was reprinted 
in England about sixty years ago, and as there 
is no subject in literature more interesting than 
narratives of this kind, or more profitable to the 
pious reader than religious biography ; and as 
the subject of it lived the greatest part of his 
days in America, (though well nigh forgotten at 
the present period) the publisher hopes that no 
apology is necessary for giving it to the public. 

The language of the pious character is, 
" Who will shew me any good ? How shall I 
obtain a greater conformity to the life of my 
Saviour — or what shall I do that I may be more 
devoted to God ?" Hence, to have the lives of 
the most devoted characters minutely depicted, 
their actions exhibited in the clearest manner, 
and their conversation, in a written document, 
1* 



*V PREFACE. 

laid before them, is no small gratification — nay, 
it is a considerable motive to stimulate them in 
many particulars to follow, step by step, such 
worthy examples. Nor can we speak lightly of 
the motive when followed with a single eye to 
God's glory, seeing the Scriptures set before us 
such examples, and exhort us to follow them. 
Our blessed Saviour has said, " Go and do thou 
likewise." And an apostle has also said, " Be 
ye followers of them who through faith and 
patience inherit the promises." But how could 
this have been done had no record been left as 
a memorial of them ? 

This narrative, however, is not intended to 
excite any one to follow him to the desert, nor 
turn hermit ; for, whatever reasons some peo- 
ple may have had, in times past, for secluding 
themselves — or, however God may have blest 
them in that situation — yet this, without the 
authority of his word of command, is not a 
sufficient reason for others to follow them. 
Some people, probably, have said that the life 
of a hermit is not the life of a Christian ; but it 
may not be amiss to suggest to the reader, that 



PREFACE. V 

the ways of Providence to many have been 
diversified and mysterious — that many things 
are permitted for a trial of faith under this dis- 
ordered state of the world, and many difficulties 
encountered by necessity which finally prove a 
blessing to mankind, though not primarily 
according to the will of God. Thus, the apos- 
tle was banished to the Isle of Patmos, where 
he wrote the Revelation, and the author of the 
Pilgrim's Progress was cast into prison, where 
he studied that book which has been so blest to 
mankind. And while some, from necessity, 
have sought a place of safety in mountains, in 
dens and caves of the earth, some others, 
probably from mistaken notions, have volunta- 
rily retired to the woods, the most effectually to 
mortify themselves, or as the best method of 
devoting themselves perfectly to God, who, 
notwithstanding an error, have given us worthy 
examples. Thus, in both instances, good has 
been brought out of evil. 

Hence, considering this holy man independ- 
ent of error and one of the purest of characters, 



tl PREFACE, 

or exhibiting him to the world in an age of dis- 
sipation like this, his example, in many in- 
stances, notwithstanding such circumstances, 
may be studied to great advantage. At a time 
when thousands are striving to excite each 
other's vanity, by adding superficial embellish- 
ments to natural beauty ; at a period when many 
others are trying to outlive their fellows in 
broadcloths and velvets, their silks and satins, 
or in some splendid piece of furniture, which no 
person in the neighborhood can equal ; it may 
not be altogether in vain to show them " a more 
excellent way," by setting before them a char- 
acter who renounced such vanities ; not unsea- 
sonable to remind them that " a man's life con- 
sisteth not in the abundance which he pos- 
sesseth ;" to convince them, that, while some 
people possess every thing, and enjoy nothing, 
there is a possibility, to use the apostle's words, 
of "having nothing, and yet possessing all 
things f" that there is a degree of faithfulness, 
which, after having forsaken all, is graciously 
rewarded with a hundred-fold in this life ; that 
such people invariably obtain a peace that is 



PREFACE. Vll 

more permanent than the foundations of the 
earth, and which they cannot lose though the 
earth be removed, and the mountains carried into 
the midst of the sea — in a word, to assure them 
that 

" Nothing have the just to lose, 
By worlds on world's destroy'd." 

Or, finally, to set before them the beauties of 
self-denial, which leads to lasting enjoyment, 
and to convince them that Christianity in its 
maturity always proves an antidote to the most 
fatal sickness, and gives a perfect meetness for 
the kingdom of heaven. But, say some people, 
"We must live and act according to times and 
circumstances — this and that are only indiffer- 
ent things, according to the customs of the day — 
there is nothing wrong in conforming to the 
refinements of the age," &c. Nay, let us re- 
flect for a moment ! Can any length of time add 
wisdom to Him who was from everlasting to 
everlasting? Shall we presume to say that 
any future period can alter the character of 
His law, or that any refinements in a fallen peo- 
ple can tolerate pride, or make it less sinful 



tlli PREFACE. 

than it was a hundred or a thousand years ago ? 
Is uot every man, though born and educated in 
a Christian land, an heathen and an idolater,, 
only as he embraces Christianity by faith in 
Christ Jesus, and by virtue of that faith takes 
up his cross to follow him ? And is it not 
written, that " the unrighteous shall not inherit 
the kingdom of God ?" Wherefore, if such is 
universally our condition, and we are all equally 
involved in the common ruin, let us lay aside 
the gaudy robes of the effeminate, to obtain the 
spotless raiment of Christ's righteousness, that, 
being clad in the wedding garment of God's 
people, we may be admitted with them into 
everlasting habitations. 

" For many years (said the Rev. JohnWesley) 
I despaired of finding any inhabitant of Great 
Britain that could stand in any degree of com- 
parison with Gregory Lopez," &c, which was 
saying a great deal of him. Nay, could he 
have said any thing more ? Hence, if his life 
was read to such advantage at that day, why 
not now ? Nevertheless, this eminent man did 



PREFACE. IX 

not approve of following him to the desert. 
This would be a step absolutely impracticable 
to thousands, and followed by death to many 
others : yet, all might follow him in some par- 
ticulars, or read his life to their mutual advan- 
tage. Let us, therefore, put on the whole armor 
of God, and practice his virtues at home, with- 
out retiring to the desert — follow his example 
in renouncing the love of this present evil 
world, and all sinful pleasures — imitate him in 
plainness of speech, avoiding evil speaking and 
useless ceremonies — his abstinence — his fer- 
vent prayer — his striving seventy times seven 
to enter in at the strait gate of perfect love to 
God — perfect resignation to his will — perfect 
•charity towards all men — and his earnest and 
[perpetual desire to do the will of God on earth 
<as it is done in heaven. 

JOHN EYRE. 

New York, January 2, 1841. 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 



CHAPTER I. 
His birth and employment till he was twenty years of age, 

Gregory Lopez was born at Madrid ; he 
seemed to be one without father, without 
mother. For no one ever heard him mention 
his family, or knew him write to his relations 
or enquire concerning them. This made many 
believe that he was the son of some persons of 
great quality. What confirmed them in that 
opinion was the manner of his behavior ; gen- 
teel, noble, and full of humble gravity ; par- 
ticularly, when he had to do with men of rank, 
or errvinence. For they admired the freedom 
and firmness with which he spoke to them, yet 
without violating the respect which he owed 
them. 

One having pressed him to tell of what fam- 
ily he was, and what was the name of his 



12 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

father, he appeared somewhat moved, and re- 
plied with a countenance full of gravity, quite 
extraordinary, " My country is Heaven, and 
my father is God." Father Juan Ozorio, hav- 
ing asked, of what country he was ? he replied 
only, " of the same country with your rev- 
erence." A few days before his death, when I 
was resolved to know the name of his parents, 
in order to send them an account of his life and 
death, he told me, " ever since I left all to evil 
wholly to God, I have considered God alone as 
my Father. As to my brothers, I do not doubt 
but they are dead, for I was the youngest of 
all." Behold, how this servant of God had for- 
gotten the advantages of his birth ; he considered 
the nobleness of his family as baseness ; he es- 
teemed only the honor God had done him. 

He was born the fourth of July, 1542, in the 
reign of the Emperor Charles the fifth. At his 
baptism he was named Gregory ; as to the sur- 
name of Lopez, I do not believe it was the name 
of his family ; but rather that he endeavored to 
conceal himself under that borrowed name. 

God favored him with uncommon grace, even 
from his tender years. Having once asked him, 
whether he had begun to serve God as soon as 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 13 

he had the use of his reason ? He replied, " he 
was not sure, whether he had begun then or a 
little after ; but it is true God had blest him 
very early with different sentiments from those 
which children use to have." And he was ac- 
customed to say, as from happy experience, 
" Happy is he who bears the yoke of the Lord 
from his youth." 

With a wonderful facility he learned to read, 
and to read so well that he surpassed his mas- 
ters ; as one may still judge from the things 
written by him, with such elegance, such 
strength, and in so beautiful a character, that 
one cannot look upon them without admiration. 

It is certain, and he owned it freely, that he 
never learned, either Latin, or any of the 
liberal arts or sciences, so that there is no 
room to doubt, but it was God who was his 
master in several things^ and who taught him 
many truths, divine and human, which others 
hardly attain by much labor. 

Being as yet very young, he went without 
saying any thing to his parents, into the king- 
dom of Navarre, where he remained in a reli- 
gious retirement, upwards of six years ; it was 
here that his soul as a fruitful soil watered 



14 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

with the dew of heaven, received the seeds of 
that holiness which afterwards produced ex- 
cellent fruit in great abundance. 

His father having carefully sought, at length 
found him there. He brought him to Vallado- 
lid, where the court then was, and by a sur- 
prising change he was made page to the em- 
peror ; God ordering thus, that even in the re- 
tinue of a prince, there should be one that was 
a saint. 

The fear of God was so rooted in the heart 
of young Lopez, that even a court-life, and all 
its various agitations, which like impetuous 
winds are apt to ruffle the calmest souls, that 
he was always recollected ; and he has told me, 
that when his master sent him with any mes- 
sage, he had such an attention to God, that 
neither persons of the highest quality with 
whom he had to do, nor all the other occasions 
of distracting the mind, which are found in the 
courts of princes, interrupted his thinking of 
God. And by this means he preserved the 
same peace and devotion, as if he had still 
been in the deseit of Navarre. 

Thus, even in the heat of youth, and in the 
dangerous snares of a court, he passed two or 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 15 

three years with a mind as unmoved, and a 
judgment as solid, as if he had been ever so 
far advanced in years. 

Being one day in prayer in a church at To- 
ledo, God gave him a fuller and stronger reso- 
lution, than he had ever yet had of executing 
his design to live wholly to Him. But as re- 
solutions of importance ought not to be made, 
but in consequence of much prayer, he passed 
several days in prayer and watching in the 
church of Guadaloupe, to obtain light, how to 
proceed in what he purposed ; and hereby he 
was more and more determined, to quit both 
the court, and his friends, and native country ; 
that there might be no obstruction to the en- 
tire devotion of himself to God, which his soul 
continually panted after. 



CHAPTER II. 



His voyage to New Spain. 



He arrived at New Spain m the year 1562, 
sand landed at Vera Cruz, being then just 
twenty years of age. He distributed among 
the poor, the stuffs which he brought with him, 
to the value of eight thousand four hundred 
reals, shewing how little he esteemed the 
riches of this new world ; while instead 
of seeking them there he gave away what he 
had brought thither, without reserving any 
thing for himself. 

From Vera Cruz he went to Mexico, where 
he stayed some days at a notary's, named St. 
Romain, to earn, by writing, as much as would 
carry him to Zacaticas, where he hoped fully 
to execute his design. 

Coming thither, he changed his dress to one 
suitable for his design, and went eight leagues 
thence to the valley of x^magac, inhabited by 
Chichinque Indians, who for their cruelty and 
fierceness, were then terrible to the Spaniards. 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 17 

But this servant of God not having been afraid 
to declare war against all the invisible powers 
of hell, was under no apprehension from visible 
enemies ; nothing doubting, with the assistance 
of God, to conquer their savageness and fierce- 
ness, by his patience, sweetness and humanity. 
The effect answered his expectation ; for, after 
he had spent but a few days in the valley, and 
conversed with the Indians, their fierceness 
was gone, and he had gained the affection of 
all that were near him. 

Seeking for a place proper for his design, he 
found, several leagues from Zacaticas, a farm 
called Temaxeco, belonging to Captain Pedro 
Carrillo de Avila; this captain, seeing him so 
young, so well made, and of so fine a carriage, 
barefooted, without shirt or hat, clothed only 
in a coat of coarse cloth, which reached down 
to his heels, and was girt lound with a rope, 
asked him, whither he was going, and what it 
was that had brought him to that country ? He 
answered, " that he was come from Castile 
with the last flota, and that he was seeking an 
hermitage,* to pass his life there in the service 

* This step does not accord with God's design to- 
wards his rational creatures, and, therefore, cannot be 



18 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

of God ; but that he had not till now found a 
proper place." He then gave him the reasons 
which induced him to retire from the world, 
with which he was entirely satisfied. Carrillo 
offered him men to build him a little house in 
the place which he had chosen : he thanked 
him, but without accepting his offer, only de- 
siring leave to work himself. He then, with 
his own hands, built a little cell, only the In- 
dians assisting him therein. 

He entered into the twenty-first year of his 
age when he entered on his solitary life ; and 
seeing himself engaged in a war, wherein he 
had so powerful enemies to combat, the first 
thing which he did, was to throw himself wholly 
into the hands of God, and to implore his suc- 
cor in these words — " Lord, I here engage 
myself altogether in thy service. If I perish, 
it will not be my business, but thine to answer 
for it." Words that expressed the absolute 
confidence he had in the power and mercy of 

recommended to any one. In the beginning, God our 
Creator said, " Tt is not good that the man should be 
alone," &c. And Christ our Redeemer commanded, 
" Let your light so shine before men, that they may see 
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in 
heaven." 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 19 

God, and his full assurance that God would not 
suffer him to perish, whilst he cast himself 
wholly upon him. 

From the moment that Lopez had thus aban- 
doned himself in fervent love to whatever it 
should please God to order concerning him, he 
felt the sensible effects of his assistance, and 
began to walk valiantly and with a great pace 
in the narrow way of penitence ; without ever 
looking back, without ever stopping, without 
ever losing sight of that light by which it 
pleased God to guide him. He lay upon the 
ground ; and, to keep him from the cold, he 
had but one quilt, and a stone for his pillow. 
These were all the moveables of his cell ; and 
all the ornaments of it, were sentences he had 
wrote upon the walls, exhorting to go on to 
perfection. His abstinence was not only great, 
but continual ; he eat only once a day, and 
then very little, and of the coarsest food ; for, 
generally, it was nothing but parched corn. 
And this he so rigorously observed, that he 
could not be persuaded to dispense with himself, 
even when in violent sickness. He never tasted 
flesh ; and when any happened to be given 

2 



20 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOFEZ. 

him, he received it with thanks, but touched it 
riot. 

Captain Carrillo had two sons, Sebastian 
and' Pedro. The latter has often mentioned, 
that Lopez, living near them, his father used to 
send them to him, to learn to read and write ; 
and that he often found him on his knees,, in 
deep prayer, with his arms extended, and his 
eyes fixed on the earth. The two brothers, in 
return for the pains he took with them, brought 
him cakes made of Indian corn, the only thing 
(as we observed) on which he lived, unless he 
sometimes ate a raw lettuce or turnip. And 
if they happened to bring him two or three 
cakes at once, it gave him dissatisfaction. He 
told them, one served him for eight days, and 
he ate them hard and dry as they were. If 
their father and mother sent him any thing else, 
he sent it back again. They sometimes found 
in his cell rabbits, quails, and figs, which in 
this country were accounted delicious food. 
These (after telling them they were the pre- 
sents of his good friends the Chichinques) he 
gave them to carry to their mother. 

He never made use of any candle, saying he 
had no business which required it. As th§ 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 21 

nights were exceeding cold, the Captain offered 
him a better quilt ; but he did not accept of it. 
When there came any minister, who per- 
formed divine service at the Captain's, he sent 
word to Lopez, who came to hear it with 
the greatest devotion, and immediately after 
returned home, without staying to eat, how- 
ever pressed thereto, or speaking to any per- 
son whatever. He never went out of his 
cell to divert himself, or even to entertain him- 
self with a good neighbor. Thus it was that 
this holy giant went on amain, in the way 
wherein the love of God had constrained him 
to enter. 

2* 



CHAPTER III. 



The conflicts he sustained, and the assistance he received, 
whereby he was more than conqueror. 

Those uncommon temptations of the devil i 
which God permits to come upon his saints in 
their solitude, arise from the shame of that 
proud spirit, when he sees himself vanquished 
by them.* Accordingly, though the extreme 
austerity of his life, and his want of almost all 
necessaries, occasioned Lopez to suffer so 
much, yet these sufferings appeared inconsider- 
able to him, compared to the inward pains 
which he endured. 

In one rencounter (he owned to a friend) he 

* Perhaps it is more proper to say, that his uncommon 
temptations arose in a great measure from his peculiar 
situation. If the husbandman were to leave the labors of 
the field for a life of retiremet, he would enter upon a 
new course of life, must feel the effects of it, and treat 
himself accordingly. Nevertheless, we may admit, that 
if a person engages to serve God in the most perfect man- 
ner, either in solitude or more public life, the Devil will 
use all his power to oppose and afflict him. 



tHE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 23 

had such a conflict with the grand enemy, 
and was obliged to use so violent efforts in re- 
sisting him, that the blood gushed out of his 
nose and ears. He was experienced in all 
sorts of spiritual weapons, long before his com- 
bat ; such a symptom, therefore, in one that 
was accustomed to conquer, shewed how obsti- 
nate that fight must have been. 

Once the devil attacked him in a visible 
ishape,* Being asked what he had done to de- 
fend himself, he replied, " Believing I could 
not do better than continue in the design God 
had put into my heart, I resolved to labor 
"therein with all my strength ; on which Satan 
disappeared, and never tempted me again in 
that manner." 

It is certain, that during the whole time of 
his solitude, the devil strove to affright him by 

* Many people speak as if this age is too much enlight- 
ened to admit of this assertion ; but, how can we abso- 
lutely deny it, without equally invalidating the testimony 
of scripture 1 St. Matthew and St. Luke assure us, that 
the Devil appeared to Jesus Christ, &c. ; that, after his 
departure, angels came and ministered unto him. Matt, 
iv. 3 — 11 ; Luke iv. 3 — 13. Was all this in imagination 
only 1 If not, is it altogether incredible that he should be 
permitted to appear on any occasion to one of his faithful 
followers 1 If so, how can we understand that scripture, 
viz. " He that is perfect, shall be as his master 1 ?" 
2* 



24 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

all means possible ; sometimes by the roaring 
and rushing of wild beasts, sometimes by the 
cruelty wherewith he saw the Indians massa- 
cree the Spaniards, at a small distance from 
him ; sometimes by various inward tempta- 
tions, and by the artifices he used to deceive 
him. Continual prayer, both day and night, 
was the remedy used in these encounters ; in 
which, that he might not faint, there was no 
kind of effort which he was not obliged to use. 
Among the sentiments from which he drew 
the most strength and the greatest consolations, 
were these words : " Thy will be done on 
earth as it is done in heaven ; amen, Jesus !" 
For the space of three years, he repeated them 
without ceasing, so that he scarce ever took 
his breath, without saying them mentally, while 
he was eating or drinking, or speaking to any 
one person whatever. I asked, if it was possi- 
ble, at every time that he awaked out of his 
sleep, they should be present to his mind ? He 
answered, " It is ; I never breathe twice, after 
waking, before they are brought to my remem- 
brance." This application to conform himself 
to the will of God, was so necessary to him, in 
order to resist these temptations, that although 



THE LIFE OP GREGORY LOPEZ. 3i 

How poor soever he was at that time, he 
never asked alms of any one ; but entirely- 
abandoned himself to the providence of God, 
having nothing to live upon, but what was 
given him without asking. And if nothing of 
this was left, he labored with his hands till he 
had gained more. 

For a long time (as we observed,) he lived 
wholly on parched corn, and during Lent, upon 
herbs. But, hence, he contracted such a weak- 
ness of stomach, as continued all the Test of 
his life. He often worked in his little garden, 
but what grew there, he gave in charity to those 
that passed by. Sometime, every day he spent 
in reading the holy scriptures, and particularly 
the epistles of St. Paul. 

During all the years he spent in solitude, 
the aforementioned assaults and temptations of 
the devil continued. But these in a great mea- 
sure ceased when he quitted his retirement, yet 
others arose in their place. Many highly con- 
demned his manner of living; others, raised 
numberless calumnies against him ; so that he 
did not want enemies in the world, any more 
than in solitude ; but in all these things he 
was more than conqueror. 



CHAPTER V. 



He goes to Mexico ; thence to Guasteca, and falls sick; 

Coming to Mexico, he was informed that 
Father Dominie de Salazar, was not yet return- 
ed ; after waiting for him some time, he be- 
lieved the providence of God, called him to 
resume his solitary life ; for which purpose he 
went into the country of Guasteca ; which, he, 
judging to be most proper for his design, as 
being wide and thinly inhabited, and abounding 
with wild fruits. Herehefixedhis abode, resolv- 
ing not to remove, till the providence of God 
should plainly call him to it. He fed on frtiits, 
roots, and herbs, which the earth brought forth 
of itself, and valiantly fought the battles of the 
Lord, continuing his exercises of the love of 
God and his neighbor. 

He had from his early youth an ardent de- 
sire of reading the holy scriptures ; and, he 
now, more frequently than ever, besought God 
to enlighten his understanding, and to nourish 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 33 

his soul with the important truths which are 
contained therein. That he might neglect 
nothing in his power, in order thereto, he re- 
solved to learn the bible by heart ; and he had 
so happy a memory, that he never forgot any- 
thing which he once knew. In this he spent 
four hours a day for four years. And, during 
this time, God gave him the understanding 
thereof. 

At the same time, and all his life after, he 
read several books, both of ecclesiastical and 
profane history. Many were glad to lend him 
them, and he read entire volumes in three or 
four days. His manner of reading was so ex- 
traordinary, that it might be thought even su- 
pernatural ; for, he frequently read over in ten 
hours, a book, which another would scarce read 
over in a month. In twenty hours he read the 
works of Teresa, and that, so effectually, that 
hardly could any one give a better account of 
all that is contained therein. 

But he did not give himself the trouble of 
reading anything but spiritual books. With 
regard to others, his manner was, to read the 
contents of the chapters. And such as con- 
tained anything which he did not know, he read 
through .; the rest he entirely passed over. 



34 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

He would have spent the rest of his life at 
Guasteca, had he believed it to be the will of 
God. But God showed him, that this was not 
tiis will, by sending him a violent bloody flux. 
He bore it for several days, in the midst of all 
inconveniences imaginable, through the want 
of things necessary for a sick man, and even of 
food. While he was in this condition, the pro- 
vidence of God, which is never wanting to them 
that fear him, sent to his relief, a priest, named 
Juan de Mesa, minister of a town in Guasteca, 
a man of an exemplary life, who, merely out 
of charity instructed the people of that country, 
and assisted them with his substance. He no 
sooner learned the extremity to which Lopez 
was reduced than he sent to seek him, and en- 
tertained him at his house with all possible care. 
As he past several days without any sustenance, 
after the disorder ceased, he was extremely 
weak. But he received his appetite in a short 
time, and then by degrees, his strength. As 
soon as he found this, he would have returned 
to his solitude, if his host had not hindered him ; 
but he kept him in his house for near four 
years, to the unspeakable comfort and edifica 
tion of all round about him. 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. S5 

Mesa provided him a chamber, where he 
spent all his time, except when he was at 
church. He was commonly in an upright pos- 
ture, or leaning against the wall with his eyes 
fixed. In this retreat, he continued day and 
night, never going out, but when he took his 
sober repast, with his host, whom he abund- 
antly paid for his hospitality, by the inestima- 
ble blessing of his conversation. All the fur- 
niture of his chamber, was a bible, a terrestrial 
globe, and a pair of compasses. 

During his stay here, one who came from 
those parts to Mexico, was saying, " there was 
a man at Guasteca, who was suspected to be a 
heretic, because he used no beads, nor gave 
any of those marks by which good christians 
are wont to be known." I asked, whether he 
spoke well on the matters of faith ? and if his 
life was unblameable ? He said, " As to his 
faith, there is no fault to be found ; he has all 
the bible off by heart ; and his 'manners are un- 
reprovable ; he is almost always alone ; he 
spends much time in the church ; and no one 
can learn who were his parents, what is his 
country, nor hear him speak about anything in 
this world." I replied, mildly, "I am sorry 



36 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

that in this he resembled Eli, who seeing Han- 
nah move her lips only in prayer, concluded 
she was drunk." I added, " why should you 
so hastily conclude, that such a person as this 
is a heretic, one so knowing in the scripture, 
so holy in his carriage, who spends his life in 
conversing with God ?" He was so moved by 
what I spoke, that he thought no more of put- 
ting him in the Inquisition. 

Till this time, I had never heard of Gregory 
Lopez, nor did I know what was his name. 
But from this very relation, I conceived such 
an esteem for him, that nothing could ever 
efface. 



CHAPTER VI. 



He goes to Atrisco, and thence to Mexico. 

The design of not being known and esteemed 
of men, occasioned Lopez to change his abode. 
Accordingly, perceiving that, after he had been 
here four years, he was much known and hon- 
ored by the Spaniards and Indians, he set out 
for Atrisco. When he was within a league of 
it, he met a gentleman named Juan Perez 
Romero, who gave him a room in his house, 
and all that he wanted. His habit being worn 
out, his charitable host gave him another, made 
of coarse brown cloth, in the form of a cassock, 
with breeches and stockings of the same — he 
wore the same sort all the rest of his life. He 
was situated much to his satisfaction here ; his 
host living truly a Christian life, and profiting 
both by his advice and example, the only 
recompense he had to make him. But God 
did not permit him to remain here any more 
than two years. Some who lived near Romero, 
3 



38 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

seeing in so young a man, and one who was of 
no religious order, so great mortification and 
such admirable wisdom and knowledge, even 
without a learned education, were afraid where 
no fear was, and accused him with so much 
warmth before the Archbishop of Mexico, that 
he believed a judicial information ought to be 
taken concerning him. This information was 
taken in due form of law, and the sentence 
which the Archbishop gave thereupon, made 
not only the innocence of Lopez appear, but 
likewise his eminent virtue and piety. 

He then took his leave of Romero, leaving 
both him, his family, and his neighbors swal- 
lowed up in sorrow. Being in the way to 
Mexico, he observed a church near Testuco, 
where he imagined he might find some small 
lodging fit for a religious retreat. And so he 
did in his return from Mexico. During the 
first seven months of his abode there, none 
knew what he was, nor took any notice of him. 
As he appeared like a simple man of little 
spirit and understanding, no one was forward 
to accost him, nor did any one perceive the 
immense treasure which God had hid in his 
soul. 



TM1E LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 39 

By this means he was in so great necessity 
(as was afterwards known) that sometimes he 
passed several days without eating any thing 
but wild quinces. But afterwards, the people 
began to observe him more, and devout persons 
invited him to eat with them. His very un- 
common abstinence and manner of life was 
then matter of edification to some ; others sus- 
pected all was not well .; and others concluded 
he was a secret heretic. 

These could not be at rest, till they had ap- 
plied again to the Archbishop, Don Pedro 
Moya de Conturas, who then determined to be 
more exactly informed of the life, manners, and 
sentiments of Lopez. To this end I went to 
Testuco; where, after I had conversed with 
him for a long time, I was thoroughly -satisfied. 
Of this I gave an account to the Archbishop, 
who, in order to remove all future objections, 
commissioned Father Alphonso Sanchez, a 
person of eminent piety and knowledge, to en- 
quire more folly into his employments, exer- 
cises, and sentiments. He accordingly went, 
and asked him many questions, which he an- 
swered with much modesty and humility, but 
exceedingly briefly, till Sanchez said, " I will 

3* 



40 THE LIFE OP GREGORY LOPEZ. 

declare to you frankly, it is my Lord Arch- 
bishop has sent me ; and therefore, as you are 
one of his sheep, you are obliged to answer 
me with all plainness." He then began to in- 
terrogate anew, and to ask the most difficult 
questions concerning faith. Lopez answered 
him with the utmost clearness, and supported 
all his answers with scripture, recounted all 
the heresies which had arisen against the 
truth, marking all the times and authors of 
them, and also the fathers and doctors that op- 
posed them either viva voce or by writing ; and 
all his answers were so judicious and solid, that 
the Father stood in admiration of him — and 
much more at the manner wherein he answered 
all objections, either to his inward or outward 
conduct, which convinced him he acted with a 
prudence that was rather divine than human. 

He gave an account of all that had passed 
to the Archbishop in a manner so advantageous 
to Lopez, that this good Bishop testified much 
satisfaction at having a man of so great virtue 
joined to his flock. 

The first time I spoke to his Grace after 
this, he said, Father Sanchez, in giving him 
an account of Lopez, had used these very 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LQPEZ. 41 

words, " In truth, my Lord, I am obliged to 
acknowledge, that in comparison of this man, I 
have not yet begun to learn my spiritual 
A, B, C." 

While he was kt Testuco, several persons of 
all ranks, coming from Mexico to consult him 
touching their spiritual distresses, they all re- 
turned much enlightened and comforted. All 
the people then began to take knowledge that he 
had a peculiar gift from God of easing arid 
comforting the afflicted. 



: 3* 



CHAPTER VII. 



He goes to the Hospital of Guastepea : his inward and 
outward exercises there. 

After this servant of God had spent two 
years at Testuco, -he fell into so severe an ill- 
ness, being attacked by so violent cholics and 
pains in the stomach, that he was constrained 
to remove from thence. He then went to the 
Hospital of Guastepea, twelve leagues from 
Mexico, in the year 1580. 

He was received there by brother Stephano 
de Herrera in the best manner he was able, 
considering the poor condition the hospital was 
then in, being newly founded. He lodged him 
in his own chamber, and treated him withabun- 
dance of tenderness. The same he used to- 
wards all the poor that , came to the hospital, 
although he had not then a revenue to feed 
them, or a building to lodge them in. Indeed, 
it appeared impossible that he should, if things 
were but humanly considered. But the zeal of 



THE LIFE OP GREGORY LOPEZ. 43 

Bernardin Alvarez, the founder, and the bless^ 
ing of God, conquered all things. I remem- 
ber, that when I asked Alvarez, whether he 
^vas willing to receive Lopez into his hospital, 
he replied : " Would to God there were room 
in my hospital to lodge all the poor in the world. 
I or I have such a confidence in the goodness of 
Jesus Christ, that I cannot doubt but he would 
provide for them all." And how pleasing to 
God this his faith was, soon appeared. For in 
less than two years after the hospital was 
founded, they gave away there every day sixty- 
live measures of bread. Neither did they re- 
fuse to entertain any poor of any sort, men or 
Women, Spaniards or Indians ; not only those 
that came from New Spain, but from Guati- 
mala and Peru. And they were so well re- 
ceived, so well attended, and treated with so 
much care and love, that almost all these pa- 
tients were in a short time restored to perfect 
health. 

As Lopez was discharged from all outward 
care, he employed himself wholly in contem- 
plation, in order to confirm himself still more 
in the love of God, and of his neighbor ; of 
which he had so long before begun to lay the 



44 THE "LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ, 

foundation. But although this was only the 
continuation of the same spiritual exercise, yet 
the growth which he received day by day was 
such, that it appeared entirely new. 

He used to spend all the morning alone in 
his chamber. At noon, when the clock struck* 
he went to the refectory, having always his 
head bare, with an admirable modesty and 
gravity. He brought his pot of water, covered 
with a little napkin, and ate his portion as the 
rest of the patients, but did not speak at all, 
while he was eating, although others were talk- 
ing round about him. After his meat, he drank 
the water, which he had set to warm in the 
sun, because of the extreme weakness of his 
stomach : when grace was said, he remained 
some time, talking of spiritual things with the 
brothers of the hospital. But when any men 
of learning, or of a religious order, were there, 
he conversed With them on things of the most 
elevated nature; and that with so much rftode- 
ration and wisdom, that one would rather have 
taken him for an angel than a man. No sooner 
was the conversation ended, than he retired 
With a cheerful countenance, with much civility, 
and a remarkable humility, carrying his pot 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPlffc. 45 

and his napkin into his chamber, where he re- 
mained in his ordinary recollection of mind till 
noon the next day. 

Father Hermando de Ribera relates, that be* 
ing then very young, and Father Herrera send- 
ing him to call Lopez to dinner, he sometimes 
found him in a kind of trance, so that he did 
not answer when he was called. But when he 
continued to call, x he answered, at length — 
" What do you want, my son ?" " I come to 
call you to dinner," replied the child ; on which 
he followed him, saying, " Praised be God." 
He went on Sundays and holy days, and some 
other days, with a mantle of the same cloth as 
his habit, to the public service of the hospital 
chapel ; or if there was none there, to a neigh- 
boring monastery. 

• Those who were sick of any contagious dis^ 
tempers he could not visit, his own extreme 
weakness not allowing of it. He therefore the 
more earnestly exhorted the brothers to supply 
his lack of service — on which he spoke to them 
with such force as redoubled their fervor in 
that holy exercise. 

Thus he performed by them what he could 
not do in person, and seconded his advice by his 



46 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

continual prayers. As to the other sick, he 
comforted and encouraged them, in so touch- 
ing and affectionate a manner, that they were 
unspeakably edified, and knew not how to 
praise God enough for his mercies. He Was 
particularly assisted to calm the spirits of 
those, whom either their own natural impa^ 
tience, or the greatness of their pains rendered 
so fretful and outrageous, that none else wer6 
able to bear them. 

As much as he loved solitude, he never shut 
his door against any who came for spiritual re- 
lief or comfort. And many declared their trou- 
bles to him, and opened their whole hearts. 
He administered comfort and counsel to them 
all, without ever refusing it to any ; and, indeed, 
he did it in so persuasive a manner, that few 
went from him without much joy and satisfac- 
tion. Many persons of learning also went on 
purpose to confer with him, concerning several 
passages of scripture, and were as much 
amazed at his knowledge of divine things, as 
his sanctity of manners. 

About this time, Father Pedro de Pravia, 
first professor of divinity at Mexico, who had 
refused a bishopric, and was equally eminent 



?HE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 47 

for his humility, piety and knowledge, went 
privately to Guastepea, talked with Lopez a 
whole evening, and said, at parting, " You will 
come to me to-morrow morning." Lopez went 
to him in the morning, conversed with him till 
noon, and, after dinner, continued the conver- 
sation till night. Father Pravia afterwards 
said, " I had heard great things of Lopez ; but 
I have found far more than ever I heard." 

While I was in the hospital, he compiled, for 
the sake of the sick, a book of receipts, con- 
taining simple remedies for most diseases. He 
wrote it all with his own hand, and so well that 
it looked as if it was printed. With these reme- 
dies, almost incredible cures were wrought ; so 
that one would have thought the author of that 
treatise had made physic his study for several 
years ; but indeed he had not studied it at all ; 
nor had ever learned that science but in one 
book, that of the love of God/ and of his neigh- 
bor. 

He sometimes employed himself in mending 
his poor habit, which he did with great address : 
and he made himself a little brown cloak to 
cover him. As for a hat, he did not make 
use of any, unless he was abroad, when the 



48 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPE2. 

sun shone very hot. He was not skilled in 
making of shoes ; but he mended his own so 
dexterously, that one pair served him more 
Chan three years. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



A severe illness obliges him to return to Mexico ; whence 
he retires to St. Foy. 

God, whose will it was that the light of his 
servant should now shine in other places also, 
•sent him a disease which was not known at 
first, which proved to be a purple fever. His 
great courage, his mortification and patience, 
made him pass thirteen days without taking his 
bed. But then the violence of his distemper 
-constrained him to suffer himself to be treated 
like a sick man. Being so weak as he was, 
^he being blooded fourteen times, must needs 
have cost him his life, had not God preserved 
it for his own glory, and the profit of many 
souls. 

He recovered from that extremity, but there 
still remained an inflammation of the liver, at- 
tended with a slow fever ; so that he was 
constrained to change the air for that of St. 
Augustine, a village three leagues off from 



50 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

Mexico. He no sooner came hither, than he 
sent me word, just as I was taking horse to go 
and see him at Guastepea. I went to St. Au- 
gustine, but found him so weak, that it was ab- 
solutely necessary he should have more help 
than could be had there. Sol removed him to 
Mexico, to my own lodging. He remained 
there some months; and several persons, during 
that time, coming to consult him in points of 
the highest concern, were so profited thereby, 
that it clearly appeared God had brought him 
thither for that very purpose. 

All the time he stayed here, he never went 
abroad, but to hear divine service. And though 
the Marchioness de Villa Manrico sent three 
times, desiring me to bring him to her, he ex- 
cused himself by saying, " I have no need of 
seeing her," nor she of seeing me ;' which was 
the more remarkable, because the Viceroy, her 
husband, was greatly feared, and she had an 
absolute power over him. But some years af- 
ter, hearing the Marquiss was deeply afflicted 
at the coming of a Commissary from Spain, to 
take information of his actions, he told me, "If 
the Marchioness desires to see me, I will go 
to her now." 



tHE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 51 

But to return. He did not recover his 
health at Mexico;, His fever continued. He 
had no appetite, and was as weak as ever: so 
I sought for some country-place near Mexico* 
which might be better for his health than we 
found the city to be. 

With this design we went together to St; 
Foy, a town two leagues from the city. We 
judged it to be an extremely proper place, and 
we pitched upon a little house separate from 
the town. He settled at St. Foy on the 22d 
of May, 1589, and passed the rest of his life 
there in contemplation and prayer, without 
ever going out of it but twice, to a church 
which is at a small half league from St. Foy, 
Before he communicated there, he fell on his 
knees before Father Vincent Calba, and, striking 
his breast, said, " Through the mercy of God, 
I do not remetiiber to have offended him in any 
thing. Give me, if you please, the most holy 
sacrament." Which Father Calba repeating 
with amazement, said, " Is it possible that a 
man should have attained so high a degree of 
virtue, as not to be conscious to himself of 
even an idle word." 



52 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ, 

In his little lodging here, he employed him* 
self in the same spiritual exercises as before ; 
having for several months scarce any company 
at all ; only I visited him, as often as I was 
able, in doing which, I observed continually 
more and more, so great a depth of piety in 
him, that my affection for him, and my desire 
of living wholly with him, increased in the 
same proportion. 

I recommended this to God in fervent prayer, 
and desired several persons of piety to do the 
same, begging that he would be pleased to 
show me clearly, what was his will concerning 
me — for I had had the care of the great church 
at Mexico for more than twenty years. And 
some judged, that I had done some good in my 
charge, were it only with regard to the poor 
who were ashamed to beg relief : for whom I 
had provided above ten years, by means of the 
alms which I procured for them. At length, I 
was convinced it was my duty to retire. My 
superiors consented to it. So I went to Lopez 
on Christmas day, the same year, and stayed 
with him till his death. 

I then observed, both day and night, all his 
actions and words wich all possible attention, 



•THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 53 

to see if I could discover any thing contrary to 
the high opinion which I had of his virtue. But 
far from this, his behavior appeared every 
day more admirable than before, his virtues 
more sublime, and his whole conversation ra- 
ther divine than human. 

His life was so uniform, that by one day 
you may judge how he employed whole months 
and years. As soon as the day began to dawn, 
he opened the window of his chamber, washed 
his hands and face, and spent a quarter of an 
hour, or a little more, in reading the Bible, in 
consideration of its being the word of God, 
who ordered him to read it ; likewise to the 
end, that what he did not understand at one 
time, he might understand at another; but 
chiefly because he had such a reverence for the 
Holy Scriptures, that he took it for the rule of 
his conduct every day. 

After this reading, he entered into so deep a 
recollection, that one could not judge by any 
outward mark, whether he was speaking to 
God, or God was speaking to him. All one 
could conjecture from the tranquillity and devo- 
tion which appeared in his countenaflce, was, 
that he was in the continual presence of God , 



|>4 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

But that presence of God wherein he lived was 
not barren or unfruitful, seeing it daily pro- 
duced more and more acts of love to God and 
his neighbor — the love which is the end of the 
commandment, and the sun} of all perfection. 

Behold how this servant of God passed all 
the morning, all the evening, and gjreat part of 
the night. Behold the bread with which he 
nourished his soul every day ! But, although 
this was in his mind continually, yet I have ob- 
served, it was in the morning chiefly, that he 
was, as it were, transported put of himself. J3e 
had not herein any determinate plape, nor any 
fixed posture of body : but pommonly he was 
standing or sitting ; sometimes walking in his 
chamber ; and sometimes fee went for a few 
moments into the sunshine, in a little gallery, 
which was near it. As for kneeling, he could 
not, during the last years of his life, by reason 
of his extreme weakness. 

At eleven he quitted his posture of recollec- 
tion, took his cup of water and his little napkin, 
and we two dined by ourselves, unless it fell 
out that any stranger came in ; for he never 
sent any*away, much less any person of piety. 
While we were at dinner, we talked on reli- 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 55 

gious subjects; and sometimes of natural things, 
and even from these he would take occasion to 
speak truths of the sublimest nature. 

After dinner, we continued for a while to en- 
tertain each other in the same manner ; and if 
any person of a religious order came, it was a 
pleasure to hear Lopez talk with him ; but it 
was only by answering questions, or when oc- 
casions were given, for he never began the dis- 
course. At other times I read to him, at this 
hour, the Lives of the Saints, the Spiritual 
Combat, or some such book. After this read- 
ing, which was a kind of recreation to us, he 
entered into his chamber, where he continued 
in union with God, which neither eating, nor 
conversation, nor business, nor any thing what- 
ever, could interrupt. And as he never slept 
in the day, he had a great deal of time to con- 
verse with God : he had seldom any visitant 
in the morning ; but, in the afternoon, his gate 
was open to all the world— he advised them, 
comforted them, and promised to pray to God 
for them. Accordingly, in the last years of 
his life, he was perpetually visited not only by 
people of common rank, but by ecclesiastics, 
by men of learning and of authority, by gentle* 
4 



56 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

men and noblemen, who either came to see 
him themselves or wrote to him, to desire his 
advice, and to recommend themselves to his 
prayers. 

Among these, Don Lewis de Velasco, Mar 
quis of Salines, who had been twice Viceroy of 
New Spain, then Viceroy of Peru, and after 
wards President of the Royal Council of the 
Indies, had such an esteem and affection for 
him, that he came several times to see him, 
and remained shut up with him for two or three 
hours — such a capacity did he find in him, not 
only for things relating to conscience, but also 
to secular affairs, even those which concerned 
the government of a kingdom. 

Thus did he employ the afternoon. Before 
sunset he returned to his chamber, whence he 
went out no more till morning. He never used 
any candle ; upon which several inquiring, w T hat 
he could be doing all that time he spent with- 
out light ? I replied only, " They do not com- 
prehend that his employ being wholly interior 
he had no need of a material light, but only that 
of a spiritual one, which enlightened the eyes 
of his understanding, no less by night than by 
day." 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 57 

As he never eat in the evening, he remained 
alone till half an hoar after nine o'clock, and 
then wrapt himself in his bed-quilt, which was 
the most delicate bed he had from his youth. 
For many years he lay on the bare ground ; 
afterwards on some sheepskins. But a few 
years before his death, I constrained him to 
have a thin quilt, besides his coverlet. I do not 
think he slept in the whole night above two or 
three hours : the rest he spent in contemplation 
till break of day ; this he continued till God 
called him to an eternal repose. 

Before I speak of the time which he spent 
at St. Foy, it may be proper to give a more 
particular account, both of the graces and su- 
pernatural gifts, with which it pleased God to 
enrich his soul. 



4* 



CHAPTER IX. 



The knowledge which God infused into his mind. 

He has sometimes owned, that God himself 
had given him to understand the Scriptures. 
And so it appeared ; for, though he never 
learned Latin, he translated the Scriptures from 
Latin into Spanish, in terms so proper, as if 
he had been equally acquainted with that and 
with his native tongue. It seemed, that the 
whole Bible was continually before him. When 
men of learning asked him where such and 
such texts were, hp not only told them without 
hesitation* but shewed the sense of them with 
such clearness, however obscure they were, 
that there remained no difficulty or obscurity 
in them. 

Twenty years before his death, Father Do- 
minic de Salazar, afterwards Archbishop of 
the Philippines, said before several persons of 
learning, "What is this, my Fathers* that after 
we have studied so closely all our lives, we 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 59 

know nothing near so much of divine things, 
as this young layman ?" 

Many persons of eminent knowledge came 
to him to resolve their doubts concerning pas- 
sages of scripture ; and they all returned, not 
barely satisfied, but amazed at the understand- 
ing which God had given him. 

Indeed, he had a vast, comprehensive know- 
ledge of things, even of the speculative sci- 
ences. And what he knew so well, that he 
spoke on any of these subjects, with as great 
clearness and accuracy, as any of those who 
had made it their particular study. When he 
was at Guastepea, Father Jean Cobus, an emi- 
nent divine, was astonished in conversing with 
him on the Revelations, at the admirable ob- 
servations which he made. The Father prayed 
him to give them in writing. He did so in less 
ihan eight hours, and sent them immediately to 
him at Mexico, without any rasure in them — 
who was no less surprised at his diligence, than 
he had been at his knowledge and piety. This 
tract has been admired by all the learned who 
have seen it, as the most excellent that was 
ever wrote upon the subject. 

4* 



60 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

Yet he was exceeding far from taking any 
superiority upon him, from needlessly engaging 
in any dispute, and from setting himself up as 
a judge over others, or desiring that they should 
follow his sentiments. 

Father Antonio Arias and some others, dis- 
puting one day concerning these words in the 
Revelation, (chap. 21, ver. ],) "I saw a new 
heaven and a new earth," whether they were 
to be taken literally or not? When all had 
spoken, Lopez only said, "When we are 
there, we shall see what will be there." 

He knew with all the clearness which could 
be drawn from the scripture and other histo- 
ries, all that passed from the creation to Noah ; 
and he recited all the generations, their degrees 
of kindred to each other, their several ages, and 
the times when they lived, with as much ex- 
actness, as if he had the Bible before him, and 
was reading them out of the book. 

Nor was he ignorant of the history of other 
people ; but if occasion offered, could tell with 
the utmost accuracy (so far as any records re- 
main,) what were their manners, their cus- 
toms, and the arts which they had invented. 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 61 

The same knowledge he had of what passed 
from Noah to Christ, arid spake of those times 
as if they had been present to him. He refer- 
red all profane histories to the sacred ; knew 
the wars and events which had occurred in any 
nation, to the birth of Jesus Christ, and spoke 
of them as clearly as he could have done of the 
things of his own times. 

He was a thorough master of all ecclesiasti- 
cal history, since the birth of Christ ; as like- 
wise of all the Emperors, to Philip II., in 
whose reign he died. 

He was equally skilled in profane history, 
ancient as well as modern. He drew up a 
chronology from the creation of the world, to 
the pontificate of Clement VIII., so exact, 
though short, that all remarkable incidents,whe- 
ther ecclesiastical or secular, were set down 
therein. 

But this knowledge was not limited to his- 
tory. He was so knowing in astronomy, 
cosmography, and geography, that it seemed as 
if he had himself measured the heavens, the 
earth, and the sea. He had a globe and a 
general map of the world, made by his own 
hand; so just, that I have seen it admired by 



62 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOJPEZ. 

persons deeply skilled in the science ; and he 
was so ready herein, that the Marquis of Sali- 
nas having sent him a very large one, he ob- 
served in it several mistakes, corrected them, 
and gave his reasons for it, and sent it back. 

He had so particular a knowledge of na 
tions, provinces, and the customs of them, that 
he could tell punctually where every coun- 
try was, and in what degree of latitude; their 
cities, their rivers, their isles ; the plants and 
animals which were peculiar to them — of all 
which he spoke as knowing what he said, yet 
without that arrogance which usually attends 
knowledge ; because his, coming from heaven, 
was not sullied with the defects of that which 
is acquired in the world. 

He was well acquainted with anatomy, 
and several times made many curious re- 
marks in that kind, which gave me reason to 
admire the wisdom of God, in the human 
frame, and to own that we are fearfully and 
wonderfully made. 

He was no less acquainted with the art of 
medicine ; insomuch that he wrote (as was 
mentioned before) a book of excellent recipes, 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 63 

cheap and easy to be procured ; and God 
blessed them with remarkable success. 

He was an excellent botanist ; he not only 
knew the quality of plants, and for what dis- 
eases they were proper, but likewise how those 
qualities might be altered, by mixing or infu- 
sing them with various liquors. I have seen 
and proved that he hath by this means made 
them quite different from what they were be- 
fore. He told me, if he knew any good and 
skilful man, he would willingly give him these 
recipes — but that otherwise they must die with 
him, lest they should be applied to a bad use. 

He wrote several hands perfectly well, as 
may still be seen, particularly in the map of 
the world ; all the writing whereof one would 
imagine to be print, the strokes are so elegant, 
bold and strong. 

But all this knowledge did not for a moment 
divert his mind from the one thing needful. 
When I asked him, one day, whether none of 
these things ever gave him any distraction ? 
He replied, " I find God alike in little things 
and in great." God being the continual object 
of his attention, he saw all things only in God. 



CHAPTER X. 



His skill in directing others. 

As God had given Lopez peculiar know- 
ledge in the Holy Scripture, so he instructed 
him likewise in an admirable manner, both t6 
walk in the strait path to heaven himself, and 
to guide others. 

He saw spiritual things with the eyes of his 
soul as clearly as outward things with those of 
his body, and had an amazing accuracy in dis- 
tinguishing what was of grace frond what wa§ 
of nature ; and that not only with regard to 
himself, but those also who consulted him in 
their doubts and difficulties. Several persons 
speaking before him, of helps to prayer, one 
said, " That the best help of all was music, 
and that he had never found so much sweet- 
ness and peace in prayer, as in the cathedral 
service at Mexico." 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 65 

Another said, "It is much better to pray 
with others, and much easier than to pray 
alone*" to which Lopez said not one word. 
When they were gone, I asked, why he said 
nothing to them ? He answered, " I would 
not Condemn that conduct of theirs, which 
serves them as a staff to walk a little ; if you 
was to take it away, they would not walk at 
all." 

God had given him so clear a discernment 
of words and thoughts, that he readily distin- 
guished those that were useful and those that 
were not ; such as came from God, and those 
that came from nature-^-upon which he was 
accustomed to say, " It was not the love of 
God, but the love of themselves, which made 
them speak of God." He said also, " As the 
love of God is all action, it talks little, and 
often not at all." It was from this light and 
quick discernment, his extreme circumspec- 
tion in all his words proceeded. 

The same light freed him from all scruple, 
and kept his soul in admirable tranquillity ; so 
that whatsoever attempts Satan made upon his 
soul, he never had any doubts of any kind. 

Many knowing and spiritual men came to 



66 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

St. Foy, to consult him touching their inward 
conduct : and he cleaned all their doubts with 
so much ease, that they returned entirely satis- 
fied. That which I admired, was the incredi- 
ble brevity with which he answered them ; and 
that those few words were sufficient to remove 
so great difficulties, so that they seemed to be, 
as it were, r&ys of light, which penetrated and 
enlightened their spirit ; sparks which, pro- 
ceeding from the love that burned in his heart, 
inflamed their hearts with the same love of 
God. 

One consulting him, who was in great trou- 
ble of mind, was eased at once by his speaking 
those words—" I counsel thee to buy gold tried 
in the fire, that thou mayest be rich." Another, 
under strong temptation, was delivered by his 
uttering only that text, "The kingdom of 
heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take 
it by force." 

To many, who inquired what they should do 
to please God, he gave only this answer, " Do 
what you do now, out of love to God, and it 
will be sufficient." 

To persons of letters, judges and men of bu- 
siness, he often said, " Change your intention, 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 67 

and you will do well enough*" One desiring 
of him a rule for prayer, he gave him this an- 
swer in writing : " Jesus Christ our Lord, is 
an admirable master, who can instruct you how 
to pray; and all prayer is included in his 
prayer ; but that you may not complain that I 
refuse your request, I will tell you, you need 
only say these few words — '0 Lord, my God, 
enlighten my soul, that I may know thee, and 
that I may love thee with my whole heart.' " 

But when persons came to him out of curi- 
osity, not a real desire to serve God, he gave 
them no other answer than this : " There are 
teachers in the church." And Antonio de 
Avila coming out of curiosity, and with a design 
to dispute with him, Lopez, as if seeing his 
heart, answered him at the first word, " I do 
not dispute ; neither do I know any thing but 
what God teaches me. Therefore, you are 
come hither in vain." 

After that, it pleased our Lord to make 
known the graces which he had given his ser- 
vant — men saw clearly what gift he had re- 
ceived for guiding those who came to him in 
their doubts and troubles. They were ravish- 
ed to see the light which he had received i^m 



68 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

God ; they were charmed with the sweetness 
of his carriage ; they respected him as a divine 
spirit, inclosed in a mortal body ; they were 
persuaded that God himself instructed him, 
in all his actions, and all his answers he gave. 
They came to consult him as an oracle from 
heaven, as a prodigy of holiness. He fully 
satisfied all the doubts that were proposed to 
him ; he instructed every one in the manner 
wherein he should behave in bis profession. 
None were so afflicted but he comforted them ; 
imprinted on the spirit of all to whom he spake, 
an ardent desire of holiness. His words were 
all words of fire, and inflamed the heart with 
the love of God. None went from him without 
feeling himself comforted and strengthened. 

In the year 1 579, Father Francis Losa, (who 
wrote the preceding and following parts of his 
life) being then Rector of the largest parish of 
Mexico, asked Lopez whether he should not 
retire from the city, and live in some solitude 
as a hermit? He answered, "Remain this year 
a hermit at Mexico." Losa returned thither, 
and his whole manner of life was entirely 
changed. Whenever he went through the city, 
whether to collect or distribute charity, he felt 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 69 

an inward recollection and prayer, which not 
all the noise and hurry of the city could inter- 
rupt. As if he had been fifty years in that holy 
exercise, he found himself a new man. Having 
lost, in a moment, all thoughts of earth, and 
being filled with heaven alone, he renounced 
all compliments, visits of form, and needless 
conversation ; and his only joy was, to retire 
into himself, and treat with God upon the af- 
fairs of salvation. He began to walk alone, 
unless he was obliged to go with any one on a 
work of charity ; and the multitude of people 
whom he met, no more disturbed his attention 
to God, than if they had been rocks and trees. 
He immediately gave to the poor all his goods ; 
he renounced all the pleasures of life ; he dis- 
missed all his servants, and employed all the 
rest of his days in serving God and his neigh- 
bor. He gave away upwards of six thousand 
ducats, and resolved to give up two thousand 
of his yearly income. He entered upon a 
course of rigorous fasting ; meantime he was 
exercised with more violent temptations, both 
inward and outward, than ever he had had ; but 
m all this he was more than conqueror. 



70 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

At the end of the year, he went to Lopez 
again ; and, after having given him an account 
of all his life, he said, the year is expired ; 
what shall I do now ? Lopez replied, " Love 
God and your neighbor." 

In return to Mexico, Losa began to think on 
these words ; but he thought he had thoroughly 
practiced them already, and accordingly found 
some repugnance in himself to the advice 
which Lopez had now given him. But, remem- 
bering what advantage he had reaped from his 
first advice, he presently humbled himself, be- 
lieving these words contained much more than 
he had at first imagined. He besought God to 
shew him the full meaning of them, and to par- 
don his pride. Immediately he heard a voice 
in his inmost soul, " Before thou canst love 
God, thou must renounce thyself, and die to 
all the things in the world." He offered him- 
self to God for this with all his heart, and 
prayed the divine majesty to work this in 
him ; and in the instant he found it in himself, 
and was so penetrated with his love, that, his 
understanding not being able to comprehend, 
nor his heart to contain so great a favor, he felt 
his bodily strength taken away, and thought 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 71 

that he should have fallen from his horse. Thus 
he found the excellence of the advice Lopez 
had given him, and the efficacy of his prayer. 

So great a favor produced great effects. For 
he continued six years in the same fervor of 
love, experiencing all the Christian graces, and 
enjoying all the fruits of the spirit. And these 
were his support for forty years after, in all the 
labor and pains which he had to suffer ; so that 
nothing could move him from his resolution, 
in following, in all things, the will and guidance 
of God." 

It was in pursuance of this that he quitted 
Mexico, and came to live wholly with Lopez. 
The first night he spent there, he was in vio- 
lent temptations, which he mentioned to Lopez 
in the morning, who replied, " I forgot you 
last night ; it shall be so no more." And, in 
fact, the following nights he had no such trou- 
ble, but found his heart calmly staid on God. 

He remained with Lopez seven years in the 
little house at St. Foy, whom he eased of all 
care concerning temporals, having a small sal- 
ary for taking care of a chapel in the hospital, 
which was sufficient for them both. After his 
death, he continued there twenty years, em- 



72 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

ployed in the same private exercises, and in 
assisting the poor Indians, who had received 
the faith, in all things pertaining to conscience. 
In the year 1612, sixteen years after the 
death of Lopez, he wrote his life, and dedicated 
it to the Marquis of Salinas, being himself at 
that time eighty-four years old, as appears by 
th§ deposition which he made in 1620. 



CHAPTER XI 



His government of his tongue, and his prudence. 

If any man offend not in word, saith St. 
James, the same is a perfect man. We may 
then pronounce Lopez a perfect man ; for all 
the eighteen years that I lived in the strictest 
intimacy with him, though I narrowly observed 
him, I never heard him speak one single word 
that could be reproved. 

He never spoke evil of any man — no, not of 
a heretic or a pagan. He was occasionally 
speaking one day of an Emperor, who would 
" eat meat fresh killed when he was in the 
midst of the sea, and fishes which had been 
alive just before, when he was in the most in- 
land country." I said, " That was Heliogaba- 
lus." He replied, " It is enough to condemn 
the action, without naming him that did it." 

When he was told that certain persons spoke 
evil of him, he heard it without emotion, and 
said, first, " We ought to believe they had a 



74 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

good intention :" and, after a wliile, " accord- 
ing to what they have heard said of me, they 
have reason to judge of me as they do." He 
strove not only to excuse the persons, but like- 
wise (as far as truth would bear) the action, 
without ever attempting to justify himself. And 
when he could not excuse them, he readily 
shifted the discourse to another subject. 

His conversation was always of things useful 
and spiritual, meet to minister grace to the 
hearers. His manner of speaking was sweet, 
civil, and invariably serious and equal. The 
tone of his voice was not high, but agreeable ; 
he was a perfect master of pronunciation ; his 
discourses continually gained the hearts of those 
that heard them, and were delivered with such 
modesty as well as majesty, as made him ap- 
pear a kind of heavenly man. 

I never 'observed, that either the beauty of 
heaven, the stars, or of the most green or flow- 
ery fields, or of the clearest fountains or 
streams, or the visits of any person whatever, 
whether at table or after, occasioned his speak- 
ing one idle word : I do not mean, a light or 
trifling word ; this would have been an utter 
contradiction to his whole manner of life ; but 



the life of Gregory lopez. 75 

even an unnecessary word : for he measured 
his words so well, that he spoke no more than 
was needful to make himself understood, and 
he never exaggerated any thing. 

As excellently skilled as he was in all the 
arts and sciences, yet even when he was 
among men of learning, and they were talking 
on those heads, he never opened his mouth, 
unless the discourse was addressed to him. 
And even when he spoke of the things of God, 
as deep as his answers were, they were ex- 
pressed in the most simple terms ; because he 
retrenched whatever would have been super- 
fluous in them, and was content with satisfying 
the demands and needs of his neighbors. 

One day, standing at the window, I said to 
him, " See how hard it rains !" Instantly a 
flash of lightning struck my hand, and made it 
smart exceedingly : I told him of it, and he re- 
plied, " You are paid as you deserve for your 
idle words ; did I not see myself how hard it 
rained V 

Upon his telling me, one day, a thing of 
great importance, I asked, " If you knew this, 
why did you not tell it me before ?" He an- 

5* 



76 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

sweredj " I do not speak all that I know ; but 
only all that is necessary. 5 ' 

He was as sparing of words in writing as in 
speaking. He never wrote first to any one, nor 
did he answer others, but when either necessity 
or charity obliged him to it ; and then so pre- 
cisely, and in so few words, that nothing could 
be retrenched. I have several of his letters in 
my hands, of five or six lines each, or less ; 
some of them were wrote to Don Lewis de 
Valesco, our Viceroy, in answer to those he 
had received from him ; one of them contained 
only these words, "I will do what you com- 
mand me." And although this manner of 
writing might seem disrespectful to persons of 
so high a quality, yet it gave no offence from 
one who was so far from all compliment, and 
who never spoke any thing superfluous. 

But when the honor of God was concern ed* 
the truth of the scripture, or the good of his 
neighbor, if others did not, he spoke without 
asking, and that largely, if the cause so re- 
quired. For example — if any one in tempta- 
tion, or great affliction, began to complain of 
God, it was amazing to hear with what strength 
of piety he spoke to convince them of their mis- 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 77 

take, ignorance and weakness ; of the depth of 
the wisdom and mercy of God, hid from the 
eyes of men in their afflictions, and of their 
obligations to abandon themselves to his con- 
duct, and to throw themselves wholly into his 
hands. 

He heard, at all times, with attention, what- 
ever questions were proposed to him ; and he 
either answered them or not, as he judged it 
his duty. One of a religious order came to see 
him, and desired me to bring it about, that he 
might talk of God. I did ; and he began a 
large, pompous discourse. Observing Lopez 
to make no answer, I desired him, by a private 
sign, to say something on the head. He an- 
swered me softly, that the doctor might not 
hear, "My silence will edify more than my 
words. When he went away, I asked him 
what he thought of Lopez ? He answered, " I 
esteem his silence much." Lopez said to me 
after, "I see that many talk well; but let us 
live well." 

He was used with much earnestness to 
plead the cause of princes, governors, and ma- 
gistrates. To those who found fault with 
them, he often said, "If you were in their 
5* 



78 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

place, perhaps you would not do as well as 
they ; and who gave you authority to judge 
them ?" If they still insisted, " They were to 
blame ;" he answered, " Then you ought to 
speak it to them ; it is useless to speak of it 
here." 

If persons who passed for religious, spoke 
evil of any one, he told them, " I cannot be- 
lieve that any can be truly religious, who set 
themselves up for judges of the actions of 
others, and who speak to their disadvantage." 
On these occasions, his usual words were, 
" This is not the place to remedy this ; it is 
not the business here." 

A person of authority speaking of the king's 
manner of governing, he said, " There is not a 
man in Spain of more ability than the king : 
and are you more able than he ?" He stood 
reproved, and spoke no more. 



CHAPTER Xll, 



His patience and humility. 

He never mentioned to any one the pains he 
endured, nor sought consolation of any crea- 
ture — only, sometimes, when he thought it 
might be of use to his neighbor, totell what had 
befallen himself : but nothing that befel him 
could ever disturb his recollection of mind, 
And that equality of spirit which he continually 
preserved, plainly shewed that he was raised 
above all human things, and entirely possessed 
with the thought of things above, without ever 
losing sight of them. 

Although he frequently suffered great pain 
at his stomach, and violent cholics, he never 
made any complaint, nor indeed any shew of 
them : I found it out only by his unusual weak- 
ness, and not being able to eat. Observing 
this one day in particular, I asked him, "What 
is the matter ?" He answered, " I have had 



80 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

a violent cholic for fifteen days, without inter** 
mission." 

He had a fever often ; and he cured it by 
fasting, three, four, or five days. But how 
ill soever he was of any of these disorders, he 
never would keep his bed. 

While he was at St. Foy, he had the tooth- 
ache for almost a year together ; but I did not 
perceive it by any outward sign, only that twice 
he used some herbs, which he knew to be good 
for it, and that sometimes it was so violent 
that he could not eat. 

He was accustomed to say on this occasion, 
" We ought not to desire sufferings, but to en- 
dure them valiantly when they come." And 
this he so steadily practiced, that one might 
have imagined he did not feel them — as I re- 
marked from the very day that I saw him first. 

Men naturally desire to be thought better 
than they are ; but Lopez was so far from this, 
that he always esteemed himself less than 
others, and I have heard him say more than 
once, " For many years I have judged no 
man ; I have believed all to be wiser and better 
than me. I have not pretended to set myself 
up above others, or to assume any authority 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 81 

over others." And hence he easily excused 
them who judged ill of himself. When I told 
him, one day, that many had spoken evil of 
him, he answered, " I excuse them not only 
with my lips, but with all my heart." 

Hence, also, it was, that he did not desire 
that others should embrace his sentiments, and 
that he did not study to express them in such a 
manner as might recommend them to others. 
On which he told me, one day, " I knew a 
man once, who diligently studied what he had 
to say, and he had no opportunity of say- 
ing it at all ; which taught him not to spend 
time so uselessly, but to trust in God, who will 
not fail to give help in time of need." 

He was also far from those inquietudes 
which arise from the uncertainty of success in 
our undertakings ; insomuch as seeking only 
to please God, he considered those cares as 
obstacles to his design. Accordingly, he was 
never in pain for the event of things ; nor did 
he ever lay great designs beforehand, even 
touching the service of God and his neighbor. 
He looked upon this as a useless way of spend- 
ing time, and was always for employing the 
present moment. As he was always on his 



82 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

guard, if a thought of this kind came at any- 
time into his mind, he checked it immediately 
by saying, " I am nothing, I am good for 
nothing." He was content to observe the law 
of God, without thinking himself worthy to see 
into futurity, although he was always prepared 
to do whatever the Divine Majesty should call 
him to. 

He was so far from all desire, that he has 
sometimes said to me, "Ever since I came to 
New Spain, I have never desired to see any 
thing in this world, not even my relations, 
friends, or country." He never desired 
to see angels or visions. "I only desire," 
said he, " to see God." And even in this, he 
was wholly resigned to his ^vill, as to the time 
and manner of it. To which he added, that 
the raptures and extasies which he had in this 
life, were only to unite him to God, and to com- 
fort him, and to conform him more and more to 
his holy will, that he might obey him in all 
things. 

The moment he came to the Valley of Ama- 
jac, he kneeled down upon the ground, and 
taking his discipline, began to chastise his 
body ; but his Divine Captain, whose wisdom 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 83 

is infinite, suffered him not to go on — he spoke 
these words to his heart : " Another shall gird 
thee and carry thee where thou wduldst not" — 
giving him to understand that he was not to 
choose for himself, but God would discipline 
him according to his own good pleasure. 

He began by exercising him with inward 
trials, and those so painful, that he had need of 
all patience to suffer them. He has told me 
he could not think of them without trembling ; 
but that he had never told the particulars to 
any one. Yet it was easy to judge from his 
advice to others in their trials, that he had ex- 
perienced the same himself; he answered 
them so exactly, as he could not have done, if 
he had not spoken by experience. 

Other sufferings he had from the prince of 
darkness — who, knowing faith to be the foun- 
dation of all good graces, was continually stri- 
ving to throw doubts or blasphemous thoughts 
into his soul ; but his lowliness and firm confi- 
dence in God, as often as they returned, put 
them to flight. 

And he was no less eminent in denying him- 
self, than in taking up and bearing his cross. 
From his first retiring, he resolved to eat noth- 



84 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LoMZ, 

ing to please his taste, but only to sustain life. 
And this he observed very religiously, even to 
his death, that when he was pressed to eat even 
some melow, or raisins, or figs, he only smelt 
the melow, and said, " This is enough for this 
year." 

On my telling him once, " You take no rest, 
and you can take none in the way you go," he 
replied, with a calm and cheerful countenance, 
" It is true, I cannot take any rest, while my 
brethren are engaged in so many labors and 
dangers ; because it is not just, that I should 
think of rest, as long as they are exposed to 
those hazards. God keep me from giving way 
to such sloth ! If but one of them is in dan- 
ger, that is enough for me to continue to pray 
without ceasing for him." 

But what cost him the most pains of any 
thing in his whole life, was, always to follow 
the grace of God, as none can follow this with- 
out renouncing himself, grace so oftendemand- 
ing just the contrary to nature. Accordingly, 
it was his continual endeavor to die to all cre- 
ated things, and to combat nature, which loves 
to enjoy them, to live in pleasure, and ease, and 
honor. He desired to be despised like his 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 85 

Master. He studied to forget all temporal 
things, and thought only of seeking God, and 
serving him. He received, with constant pa- 
tience, all that could befal him, without seek- 
ing any satisfaction, or finding any, even in his 
virtues, but as they contributed to the glory of 
God, to whom alone his heart was attached, 
forgetting all things else. He had so great a 
hunger and thirst for God, that no creature 
could satisfy him. After this sovereign good 
he ran without ceasing, in spite of all his incli- 
nations ; and this agonizing after God, is a 
greater cross, and a heavier self-denial, than 
than any who have not felt it can conceive. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



His Prayer. 

Several things give me reason to believe, 
that Lopez began to pray from the time he be- 
gan to reason ; he has occasionally told me, 
" that he had never been a child ; and that he 
had never cast one look backward :" whence 
one may easily infer, he had never been with- 
out prayer, even from his tender years. I have 
likewise heard him say, " that from the time 
he came to Court, he prayed continually ; and 
went through his business with the same in- 
ward peace, as he could have done twenty 
years after : and that neither the Noblemen he 
met in the way, nor the noise and disti actions 
of the Court any more interrupted his prayer, 
than if he had been in a cavern." And to this 
he was brought at first, not by the fear of hell, 
but God always led him by love. The foun- 
dation of all his devotion was Jesus Christ, the 
only door whereby we can come to God. This 



tllE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 87 

he has often told us, while he has spoke in so 
affecting a manner of the life and death of our 
Redeemer, as made it clearly appear how well 
he was exercised in this kind of meditation. 

The first prayer wherein he was employed 
in his little cell, (as was observed before) was 
contained in these words : " Thy will be done 
on earth as it is in heaven :" words that con- 
tained the most sublime and the most difficult 
doctrine in the whole spiritual life ; for they 
contain a fixed resolution to do all that God re- 
quires, whether temporal or spiritual things, 
and an entire submission to his orders, by re- 
ceiving at his hand, with tranquillity of spirit, 
whatever he pleases, how rough soever it might 
be ; because the will of God being our sancti- 
fication, we ought to embrace whatever condu- 
ces to it ; and to this end obey him without 
recompence, and the creatures for his sake. 

This is the way to be always in the presence 
of God, and to show r our love to him by our 
obedience. 

This includes all true mortification in all our 
works, all our affections, all our desires ; for it 
is to make a continual sacrifice to God of our 



88 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

own will, and to have no end but to fufill his 
in all our actions. 

By this exercise, one arrives at a state of 
uniformity, that is, so strict an union of our 
will with that of God, that ours disappearing, 
we have no will but his, which actuates, guides 
and governs us. 

Lopez has told me, that after the first year, 
he had no need to put himself in remembrance 
of his prayer, because his very drawing his 
breath reminded him of it every moment. The 
effect of which was, that he was continually 
raised above himself, without ever having a 
thought about worldly things ; and that his un- 
derstanding, memory, and will, were also taken 
up with this divine exercise ; that great as his 
temptations were, they were no sooner past 
than he had forgotten them. 

After three years, God led him to practice 
another lesson, viz : " Thou shalt love the 
Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy 
soul, and with all thy strength ; and thy neigh- 
bor as thyself." And he now employed him- 
self with the same application, in those acts of 
love, as he had done before in those of resigna- 
tion : insomuch that I have heard hiii say, it 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 89 

would be very difficult for him to discontinue 
this exercise for a moment, even in eating, in 
talking, or in any other employment, whether 
of body or mind. 

His soul being in this situation, he applied 
himself to the Holy Scriptures with more ap- 
plication than ever ; in this he spent three or 
four hours every day ; and the love which filled 
his heart, gave him understanding therein. By 
this means also, he acquired that wonderful 
discretion in his words, that prudence and wis- 
dom in his answers and counsels, and that even- 
ness wherewith he loved his neighbor as him- 
self, and sought his happiness no less than his 
own. 

Hence likewise proceeded that great purity 
of heart, that readiness in all kind of prayer, 
that entire mortification of all senses, and that 
constant power over all the powers of dark- 
ness. 

I have talked with Lopez (says a person of 
eminent piety) sometimes for four hours to- 
gether, upon spiritual things, and from what I 
saw and remarked in him, I judged him to be 
a man highly favored. His soul appeared to 
be disengaged from all things else, by a pure 



90 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPE2. 

union with God. Him he always enjoyed in 
the essence of his soul, where the Supreme 
Majesty delights to dwelL This I could ea« 
sily learn during an acquaintance of seven 
years, from many things which he communi- 
cated to me. Hence I found that he was in a 
continual act of love with God ; in which his 
soul, freed from all created things, was inti- 
mately united to God ; that from this fountain 
flowed all the graces which it pleased our 
Lord to bestow upon him. For at the same 
time that he received this pure, uninterrupted 
love, he made an admirable use of it on all oc- 
casions, as knowing that love is the source, 
the origin and mother of all other virtues ; 
which God continually communicated to him, 
that he might communicate them to others, and 
enrich their poverty with his abundance. I 
asked him once " if he had any particular hours 
wherein he prayed more than at other times ? 
And if he did not abate something of his pray- 
er in his employments and conversations with 
his neighbors V 9 He answered, " that he had 
no particular hours, and that he had no neces- 
sity for them, since no created thing was capa- 
ble either of interrupting or abating his contin- 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 91 

ual loye to God and his neighbor. That so 
far frpm ever drawing back in this union with 
God, he advanced in it continually, referring 
to God by this simple act of pure love, all the 
graces which he was pleased to give him, 
without assuming any thing to himself : that 
this union was the source of all his knowledge ; 
and that accordingly God himself was his 
teacher, and not his books, through whiph in- 
4eed he was sometimes taught." 

He told me likewise, " God had shpwn him 
there was then the greatest unio^ between God 
and the soul, when it was such that nothing 
interposed between them ; and that he had giv- 
en him to comprehend what sort of union this 
was, from that which is between the light and 
the air : for these, being two distinct things, 
and which have each its separate subsistance, 
are nevertheless united, that God alone is able 
to divide them. How much closer is this un- 
ion between the pure essence of the soul, and 
him who is an infinitely pure spirit ?" 

Asking him one day, " What would you have 
done, if you had been a priest ?" He replied, 
" What I do now." "And how," said I, "would 
you have prepared yourself to celebrate thebles- 



92 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

sed sacrament?" He answered, "As I now pre- 
pare myself to receive it. And if I were sure 
of dying in a few hours, I would do no other 
thing than I do now ; for I do actually offer up 
to God all that is in my power, by a continual 
act of love. And can do nothing more till he 
shall enable me himself." 

He told me farther, " Perfection does not 
consist in visions, revelations, ravishments, and 
extasies ; although God often favors his ser- 
vants therewith, because he acts towards every 
one, according to his capacity, his need, and 
the disposition wherein he is. But souls ac- 
customed to acts of pure love, do not need the 
suspension of their senses, in order to have 
deep communion with God, because these do 
not hinder them therein." He added, " that 
he had never had any revelations, extasies, or 
ravishments, which had deprived him of his 
senses ; nor had his senses ever occasioned in 
him any distraction of mind, because they were 
perfectly spiritualized, entirely subject to his 
reason, and conformable to the will of God." 

Continuing the discourse, " I knew a man," 
said he, (by whom I was assured he meant 
himself,) " who for six and thirty years never 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 93 

discontinued, for one single moment, to make 
with all his strength, an act of pure love to 
God." 

At another time I spake of some who ac- 
quired great inward peace by a passive union 
with God, and by a love which made them con- 
tinually taste the grace which God communi- 
cated to them. He answered, " Such souls 
are happy and walk in a good path. But yet 
the perfection is not so great in this state 
wherein one enjoys these sweetnesses, as in 
that wherein we labor with all our might, to 
love God in the most perfect manner we can 
possibly ; because in the latter state, we act, 
rather than enjoy ; whereas in the former, we 
rather enjoy than act, For a soul that perfect- 
ly loves God, can only give him what he gives 
first. And he requires no more ; inasmuch as 
this is all the law and the prophets." 
6* 



'CHAPTER XIV, 



His Union with God, and the Fruits thereof. 

I asked him one day, whether his not using 
& hat, was because he was always in the pre- 
sence of God? He answered "No: my ^ un- 
ion with God being in nly inmost soul, does not 
require me either to be covered or uncovered; 
but it is, that I may want as few things as pos- 
sible, and that I may not make my body deli- 
cate." 

Hence proceeded that humility which he 
possessed in so eminent a degree ; being al- 
ways so intimately united with God^ he had a 
full knowledge of God's infinity, and his own 
nothingness ; and earnestly desired that every 
one should consider him as nothing, and God 
as all. 

Hence also it was, that he received whatever 
befell him from men with such patience and 
tranquillity of spirit, that he readily excused 



THE LIFE OP GREGORY LOPEZ. 95 

those who despised or spoke evil of him, and 
that he never complained of any one. 

From the same fountain proceeded the per- 
fect purity both of his body and soul. For the 
rays of divinity fell continually upon his soul, 
as those of the sun on a crystal mirror. By 
this act of pure love, his soul was transformed 
into the same image. And what purity was 
thereby communicated even to the body, can 
hardly be conceived in this life. 

Hence sprung that purity of conscience 
also, which astonished the most spiritual ; as 
one sees by his own words, " through the mer- 
cy of God, I do not know that I have sinned 
in any thing." And upon my asking, "Is 
it possible for any one to remain for any 
time without committing sin?"* He answered, 
" When those whom God has enabled to love 



*Not without having been first made deeply conscious 
of its universal defilement — deep repentance under that 
conviction — faith to believe that God hath taken away 
thine iniquity — and profound seriousness, perpetual 
watchfulness, humility, and faithfully using the grace 
given as the fruits of it. Hence those people who talk 
about sanctification, or being saved from sin, and bring 
not forth the fruits of it, we do not believe them. " He 
'that saith he (thus) abideth in him, ought himself also so 
to walk, even as he walked." 1 John, ii. 6. 
6* 



96 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

him with all their soul, do, with his assistance, 
all that is in their power, and that with deep 
humility, it is possible for them to remain with- 
out committing sin ; as clearly appears, in that 
our Lord, who commanded nothing which was 
impossible to be performed, commanded this, 
" Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with alL 
thy heart, mind, soul, and strength. But he 
who does this, not only does not sin, but grow T s 
daily in all holiness." I replied, " But how can 
this be, when the Scripture says, ' The just 
man sins seven times a day' ? "* He answer- 
ed, u This could not be taken literally ; since 

* The gospel does not say that a man cannot live with- 
out sin : on the contrary. St. John positively declares— 
"Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin." 1 
John iii. 9. Christ speaks of the pure in heart ; the good 
tree which cannot bring forth evil fruit ; and the same 
Apostle, of being cleansed from all unrighteousness. 
And can that heart be pure where sin stiil abides 1 Is 
not sin evil fruit 1 And can any sin remain in the heart 
which is cleansed from all unrighteousness 1 Again 
Christ declares that he who is perfect shall be as his 
Master. And St. John says, " as He is, so are we in this 
world." John iv. 17. Finally, St. Paul saith that " love 
is the fulfilling of the law." If, then, a man is cleansed 
from all unrighteousness, and filled with the pure love of 
God — if in this state of fellowship with God he uses the 
strength he has as a faithful steward thereof, is there a 
greater contradiction in the world, than to affirm that he 
must daily and hourly commit it, when thus free from 
if? 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 97 

we see some who spend not only one day, but 
many, in uninterrupted prayer, and in one con- 
tinued act of love to God." 

But although this servant of God was con- 
tinually employed in this act of love to God 
and his neighbor, yet he had likewise other 
ways of praying, which did not hinder, but in- 
crease his union with God. 

When he had any great conflicts, he rejoiced 
to sustain them for love to God ; and after he 
had conquered, he offered all that he had suf- 
fered, as a sacrifice to him. He offered him 
not only all the spoils won from his enemies, 
but the gifts and graces which he had given 
him, joined with fervent prayer, and an un- 
speakable sense of his obligations to the giver 
of every good gift : so that when he received 
any new grace or gift, his understanding being 
more enlightened, and his heart still more in- 
flamed with love,instead of resting on those gifts 
and graces, he offered them to God, for whom 
alone he loved all that he received from him. 

He was likewise accustomed to offer to God 
the life, passion, and death, of our Lord, some- 
times in behalf of all the world ; sometimes of 
particular persons. He told me one day, that 



98 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ, 

" he frequently practised two sorts of spiritual 
communion ; the one, by an ardent desire of 
receiving Jesus Christ in the Lord's supper ; 
the other by receiving into his soul the Father, 
Son, and the Holy Spirit ; thus becoming a 
living, pure temple of the ever-blessed Trinity, 
actually giving them an abode in his heart, to 
dwell and rest there forever." 

He prayed earnestly for the church — for its 
increase, and for the propagation of the true 
faith through all nations ; and for all sinners, 
that they might offend God no more, but might 
all love him and keep his commandments. 
What he asked for his neighbors with the 
greatest fervor, was, that they might do the 
will of God as it is in heaven. And this he 
did on all occasions. So that when he heard 
one say, " The king was extremely reverenced 
because of his power and justice, and that he 
possessed his realms in peace ;" he immedi- 
ately broke out, " Lord, thou hast all justice, 
and all power ; let all men reverence thee ; 
and possess thou thy kingdom over all the 
earth in peace, throughout all ages ! " If he 
heard of a father whom his children loved for 
his goodness, he would presently say to God, 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 99 

" Eternal Father, thou art the source of all 
good ; let thy children love thee." When one 
mentioned a gardener, who took great care to 
make his trees bear good fruit, he said, " Suf- 
fer not, Lord, any of thy creatures to perish, 
but make them all bring forth good fruit." If 
he heard of great wars, and many deaths, he 
lifted up his heart to God, saying, " See, Lord, 
the miserable state of thy children, and my 
brethren, whom thou commandest me to love 
as my own soul." In a word, there was noth- 
ing, either good or evil, which did not furnish 
him with matter for prayer. He told me some- 
times, that at one glance, he saw in God all 
that was in the world. Hence one may judge 
how sublime his praver was, and how great a 
resemblance he bore to God ; seeing all the 
world was present, as it were, in epitome, and 
in his understanding ; and by so peculiar a gift 
he reduced all to one point, to offer it to God. 
He was extremely desirous that every chris- 
tian should continue to pray, even in outward 
works. And this he practised, not only in all 
he did, but likewise in all he spoke. For 
whenever he spoke, either in asking or answer- 
ing any thing, he lifted up his heart to God, 



100 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

and prayed for his assistance and blessing. 
Particularly, whenever he had a desire to as- 
sist any one that was in distress, he had re- 
course to God by prayer. By this it was that 
he did so many surprising things ; saying, of- 
ten, "it was much better to treat with God 
than with man." 

By this means he could say, with the strict- 
est truth, " I live not, but Christ liveth in me." 
For he appeared to all who observed him with 
attention, to be a real portraiture of Jesus 
Christ, truly crucified in him, and having no 
affection but for a life wholly divine. Being 
in a manner transformed into the image of 
Christ, he had an ardent desire to follow him, 
in his life, in his labors, and in his sufferings, 
as the most perfect pattern that can ever be 
set before us. Therefore he had no rest dur- 
ing his whole life, but was laboring and suffer- 
ing incessantly. 

He could continually testify, " To live is 
Christ, and to die is gain." For it was his 
chief joy to suffer with Jesus Christ. In this 
he gloried, and in this alone ; saying with the 
Apostle, " God forbid that I should glory, save 
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Him 



THE LIFE OP GREGORY LOPEZ. 101 

he regarded in all things, as the only model by 
which he was to form himself. He said with 
David, " My eyes are always lifted up unto 
thee, O Lord." He was accustomed to say, 
"The eyes of a wise man always are fixed on 
Christ, who is his head ; and the soul that is 
touched with the love of God, is like a needle 
that is touched with the load-stone, whicl} al- 
ways points to the North, Thus, in whatever 
place a truly spiritual man is, and in whatever 
he is employed, his eyes and his heart are al- 
ways fixed on Jesus Christ. 



CHAPTER XV, 



His last sickness and death. 

In May, 1596, he began to find himself out 
of order. He lost his appetite entirely ; nor 
could he swallow any thing but liquids, and 
that not without much difficulty. A few days 
after, he fell into a bloody flux, which was the 
more dangerous, because he was so extremely 
weak. Seeing the concern I was under, he 
said, " My Father, now is God's time" — 
meaning the time of shewing by facts his resig- 
nation and conformity to the divine will, ac- 
cording to his common saying, " True resigna- 
tion consists wholly in doing, and not in talk- 
ing." 

As soon as his sickness was known at the 
Hospital in Mexico, the Superior of the Hospi- 
tal came to visit him ; and believing he might 
want one to attend him, he brought with him 
brother Pedro de Sarmiento. When he was 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 103 

€ome, he could not but admire his patience 
and tranquillity of spirit. He asked, " If he 
should not leave his brother to attend him ?" 
He replied, with his usual gravity and sweet- 
ness, " He was not willing to deprive the hos- 
pital of any help, which perhaps they could 
not spare ;" but being assured they could spare 
him, he willingly accepted his service. He 
bore his illness many days with his accustomed 
courage and patience, never complaining, were 
his pains ever so great. 

On the 24th of June, I thought it would be 
well to give him the Sacrament. I asked him 
if he was willing to receive it. He answered, 
"Yes, and particularly on St. John the Bap- 
tist's Day, for whom he had always had a pecu- 
liar veneration." I then gave it him without 
delay, fearing lest death should prevent, as he 
was exceeding weak, and received scarce any 
nourishment ; besides that, he had an extreme- 
ly troublesome hiccup, and his pulse began to 
intermit. 

His hiccup continuing, he said to brother 
Pedro, " My brother, you know r what this hic- 
cup means ;" intimating thereby that bis death 
was near. 



104 1 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 



This day, and the following days, his illness 
increased continually — notwithstanding which, 
he would rise, even to the day of his death, and 
dress himself as oft as his distemper required* 
although he might have avoided that extreme 
fatigue by accepting the services of others. 

He grew weaker and weaker every day, and 
was not able to eat any thing, unless some 
sweetmeats, which certain persons of quality 
sent him from Mexico — upon which he said, 
" Thou art wonderful, my God, in that a man 
who possesses nothing in the world, having 
need of such food as belongs to noblemen, has 
it provided for him." 

I never perceived in him, during his whole 
illness, any repugnance to the order of God, 
but an admirable peace and tranquillity, with 
an entire conformity to his will. All his vir- 
tues shone marvellously in his sickness, and 
particularly his humility. A few days before 
his death, an Indian of St. Foy came to see 
him ; and, as he did not understand the Indian 
tongue, he said to me, " If you please, my Fa- 
ther, hear him ; perhaps he would give mt 
some advice." Such was his spirit — to believe 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 105 

he might learn from an Indian, in the state 
wherein he theft was ! 

All this time his pains of body were so 
great, that, when I asked him how he found 
himself, and in what part his sharpest pain 
lay, he answered, "From my head to my foot." 
It was then that a lady of quality came from 
Mexico to visit him ; but as she had not profit- 
ed by his former advices, but still continued 
passionately fond of dress and gaming, I sent 
her word, " She might go back, for she could 
not see him. Three or four hours passed in 
messages to and fro. At length, hoping it 
might have a good effect, I consented. She 
was admitted. She kneeled down by his bed> 
served him herself, and prepared his food with 
her own hands, with the utmost tenderness and 
humility. She was then dressed plain, with* 
out any ornaments at all. During the time she 
stayed at St. Foy, she had much conversation 
with him every morning and evening, and with 
many tears recommended herself to his prayers. 

From that time she felt an entire change in 
her heart, abhorring the things of which she 
was fond before. And, some days before she 
returned -to Mexico, she told me with great 



106 THE LIFE OP GREGORY LOPEZ. 

joy, " My Father, you shall be witness that 
Gregory Lopez has taken charge of my soul." 
He replied, " I have so." Immediately his 
pains redoubled, and she on her part felt her- 
self struck with the same illness which he 
had. Nevertheless, she continued two days 
serving him on her knees, and shedding abun- 
dance of tears. But her illness increasing 
daily, she was constrained to return to Mexico. 
Lopez said to her, at parting, " Madam, fare- 
well : we shall see each other no more." 

As her illness increased, in the same propor- 
tion increased her shame and sorrow for her 
sins : and so did his pains. When she was in 
extremity, one came from her, to beg he would 
remember her, he answered to my astonish- 
ment, "Yes, I do ; and 1 carry this weight on 
my shoulders." In fine, the lady died, giving 
all the proof that was possible of a saving 
change. I heard of it a few hours after. When 
I mentioned it to Lopez, he expressed his joy 
in these few words, " God has all power." 

I have related this to shew how deeply the 
love of his neighbor was rooted in his heart, 
and with what ardor he assisted, even in his 
utmost weakness, the souls thatwere in danger, 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 107 

and even taking as it were to himself the pun- 
ishment of their sins, as he seems to have done 
on this occasion. Seeing, besides the exces- 
sive pains of body which he felt, the inward 
cross which he bore from the time that he 
charged himself with this soul, was so extreme- 
ly heavy, that he was astonished at himself; 
and not knowing before what it was to com- 
plain, he then cried out, with the strongest 
emotion, " Jesus, assist me! my God, how 
severe is this refining fire !" And one time, 
when I was going out, he stopt me, saying, 
" My Father, do not leave me. Alas ! it was 
not without great reason, that Christ bade his 
apostles stay and watch with him." Such a 
word as never fell from him before in the se- 
verest trials, either of body or soul. 

Yet, in the midst of all his inward pains, his 
courage and faith were unshaken. I frequently 
asked, during all those storms, " Do you con- 
tinue that act of pure love ?" He answered, 
" That is always the same." To set which in 
the clearest light, I will repeat the several 
questions which I proposed, when I saw him 
at the lowest ebb, and his answers. 



108 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

One time, I asked if so great pain did not a 
little divert him from thinking on God ? He 
answered, " Not in the least." Another time, 
seeing him suffer extremely, I said, now is the 
time to think upon God. "And of whom 
should I ever think," was his reply. When he 
w T as in the very pangs of death, I said, are you 
thoroughly united to God ? He answered^ 
"Yes, thoroughly." 

Another time he turned to me, and said, 
"Perseverance, joined with peace, is of great 
price." And when I comforted him by saying 
God led him in the way of the cross, as he had 
done his own Son, he replied, "I cannot be too 
thankful for it, nor rejoice in it too much. His 
holy will be accomplished in me." In fine, 
when it appeared to me time to give him the 
blessing, I said, behold the time of going to see 
the secret of the Lord— he answered, " All is 
clear, there is no longer any thing hid — it is 
full noon with me." Plainly declaring, that 
the light which then shone upon his soul far 
surpassed that of the noon-day sun. And in 
this marvellous confidence, full of faith, hope* 
and love, he gave up his spirit to God. 



THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 109 

This was on Saturday noon, on the 20th of 
July. He lived fifty-four years, thirty-four of 
them in America. His face appeared as if he 
had been still alive. His flesh, all over his 
body, was as soft ap that of a little child ; and 
many who touched him, even for twenty-four 
hours after, found all the parts of his body full 
as flexible as those of a living man. His corpse 
was carried into the church, where it remained 
all the night. The Indians covered it with 
roses, and abundance of other flowers, as a 
testimony of their love. 

As soon as his death was known at Mexico, 
many persons of quality, as well as people of 
all ranks, ran to St. Foy, that they might be 
present at his funeral. All appeared full of 
joy and consolation, believing there was no oc- 
casion for tears here, as at the death of other 
persons, but rejoicing with him who was now 
triumphing in his own country. 

His body was interred near the high altar, 
the Dean of Mexico performing the oiBce, and 
brother Hernando Hortez, one of the cannons, 
preached his funeral sermon. 

He was of a middle size, and so exactly pro- 
portioned, that no blemish could be found in 
7 



1 10 THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ. 

him. But his constitution was tender ; his 
hair was chesnut ; he had a large and high 
forehead : his eye-brows were arched, his ears 
small, his eyes black, and his sight so strong 
that he read the smallest pr{nt or writing with- 
out spectacles. His nose was inclining to 
large ; his lips small, though the under lip 
somewhat thicker than the other. His teeth 
were even and white ; his face and hands of a 
dead, wan color, through his extreme absti- 
nence. But the beauty of his soul shone 
through his face, and wrought such a reverence 
in all who beheld him, that they considered 
him rather as one just come down from heaven, 
than a mortal creature. 



HERMIT 



THE HERMIT.* 



BY DR. T. PARNELL. 



Far in a wild, unknown to public view, 
From youth to age a reverend Hermit grew ; 
The moss his bed, the cave his humble cell, 
His food the fruits, his drink the crystal well : 
Remote from man, with God he passed the days> 
Prayer all his bus'ness. all his pleasure praise. 

A life so sacred, such serene repose, 
Seem'd Heav'n itself, till one suggestion rose ; 
That vice should triumph, virtue vice obey, 
This sprung some doubt of Providence's sway ; 



* It is impossible (says a writer) for any one who has a taste for poe* 
try to read this poem without pleasure and profit. A late celebrated wri- 
ter justly observes, that this poem "is conspieuous,throughout the whole 
of it, for beautiful descriptive narration. The manner of the Hermit's 
setting forth to visit the world ; his meeting with a companion, and the 
houses in which they are successively entertained, of the vain man, the 
covetous man, and the good man, are pieces of -very fine painting, touch- 
ed with a light and delicate pencil, overcharged with no superfluous 
coloring, and conveying to us a lively idea of the objects." — Dr. Blair 1 s 
Lectures on Rhetoric, vol. Hi. page 163. 



114 THE HERMIT. 

His hopes no more a certain prospect boast, 
And all the tenor of his soul is lost— 
So when a smooth expanse receives imprest 
Calm nature's image on its watery breast, 
Down bend the banks, the trees depending grow, 
And skies beneath with answ'ring colors glow : 
But if a stone the gentle sea divide, 
Swift ruffling circles curl on every side, 
And glimmering fragments of a broken sun, 
Banks, tiees, and skies, in thick disorder run. 

To clear this doubt, to know the world by sight, 
To find if books, or swains, report it right ; 
(For yet by swains alone the world he knew, 
Whose feet came wandering o'er the nightly dew) 
He quits his cell ; — the pilgrim-staff he bore, 
And fix'd the scallop in his hat before ; 
Then with the sun a rising journey went, 
Sedate to think, and watching each event. 

The morn was wasted in the pathless grass, 
And long and lonesome was the wild to pass ; 
But when the Southern sun had warm'd the day, 
A youth came posting o'er a crossing way ; 
His raiment decent, his complexion fair, 
And soft in graceful ringlets wav'd his hair. 
Then near approaching, a Father, hail !" he cried ; 
And " Hail, my son !" the rev'rend sire replied. 



THE HERMIT. 115 

Words follow'd words, from question answer flow'd, 
And talk of various kind deceiv'd the road ; 
'Till each with other pleas'd, and loth to part/ 
While in their age they differ'd, join in heart : 
Thus stands an aged elm in ivy bound, 
Thus youthful ivy clasps an elm around. 

Now sunk the sun ; the closing hour of day 
Came onward, mantled o'er with sober grey ; 
Nature in silence bid the world repose • 
When near the road a stately palace rose : 
There, by the moon, through ranks of trees they pass. 
Whose verdure crown'd their sloping sides of grass. 
It ehanc'd the noble master of the dome 
Still made his house the wandering stranger's home : 
Yet still the kindness, from a thirst of praise, 
Prov'd the vain flourish of expensive ease. 
The pair arrive : the liv'ried servants wait ; 
Their lord receives them at the pompous gate. 
The table groans with costly piles of food, 
And all is more than hospitably good. 
Then led to rest, the day's long toil they drown, 
Peep sunk in sleep, and silk, and heaps of down. 

At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day 
Along the wide canals the zephyrs play ; 
Fresh o'er the gay parterres the breezes creep, 
And shake the neighboring wood to banish sleep. 



116 THE HERMIT. 

Up rise the guests, obedient to the call, 
An early banquet deck'd the splendid hall ; 
Rich luscious wine a golden goblet grac'd, 
Which the kind master forc'd the guests to taste. 
Then pleas'd and thankful, from the porch they go ; 
And, but the landlord, none had cause of woe ; 
His cup was vanished ; for in secret guise 
The younger guest purloin'd the glittering prize ! 

As one who spies a serpent in his way, 
Glist'ning and basking in the summer ray, 
Disorder'd stops to shun the danger near, 
Then walks with faintness on, and looks with fear ; 
So seem'dthe sire ; when far upon the road, 
The shining spoil his wily partner show'd. 
He stopp'd with silence, walk'd with trembling heart, 
And much he wish'd, but durst not ask to part ; 
Murmuring he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard, 
That generous actions meet a base reward. 

While thus they pass, the sun his glory shrouds, 
The changing skies hang out their sable clouds ; 
A sound in air presag'd approaching rain, 
And beasts to covert scud across the plain. 
Warn'd by the signs, the wandering pair retreat, 
To seek for shelter at a neighboring seat. 
'Twas built with turrets, on a rising ground, 
And strong, and large, and unimprov'd around ; 



THE HERMIT. 117 

Its owner's temper, tim'rous and severe, 
Unkind and griping, caus'd a desert there. 
As near the Miser's heavy doors they drew, 
Fierce rising gusts with sudden fury blew ; 
The nimble light'ning mix'd with showers began, 
And o'er their heads loud-rolling thunder ran. 
Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain, 
Driven by the wind, and batter'd by the rain. 
At length some pity warm'd the master's breast, 
('Twas then his threshhold first received a guest) 
Slow creaking turns the door with jealous care, 
And half he welcomes in the shiv'ring pair ; 
One frugal fagot lights the naked walls, 
And nature's fervor through their limbs recalls : 
Bread of the coarsest sort, with eager wine, 
XEach hardly granted) serv'd thern both to dine ; 
And when the tempest first appeared to cease, 
A ready warning bid them part in peace. 

With still remark the pondering Hermit vie v'd 
In one so rich, a life so poor and rude ; 
And why should such (within himself he cried) 
Lock the lost wealth a thousand want beside 1 
But what new marks of wonder soon took place, 
In every settling feature of his face ! 
When from his vest the young companion bore 
That cup, the gen'rous landlord own'd before, 
And paid profusely with the precious bowl 
The stinted kindness of this churlish soul. 



118 THE HERMIT. 

But now the cfouds in airy tumult fly ; 
The sun emerging opes an azure sky ; 
A fresher green the smelling leaves display, 
And glittering as they tremble, cheer the day ; 
The weather courts them from the poor retreat, 
And the glad master bolts the wary gate. 

While hence they walk, the pilgrim's bosom wrought 
With all the travel of uncertain thought ; 
His partner's acts without their cause appear, 
'Twas there a vice, and seem'd a madness here : 
Detesting that, and pitying this, he goes, 
Lost and confounded with the various shows. 
Now night's dim shades again involve the sky ; 
Again the wanderers want a place to lie, 
Again they search, arid find a lodging nigh. 
The soil improv'd around, the mansion neat, 
And neither poorly low, nor idly great : 
It seem'd to speak its master's turn of mind, 
Content, and not for praise, but virtue kind. 

Hither the walkers turn with weary feet, 
Then bless the mansion, and the master greet : 
Their greeting fair, bestowed with modest guise, 
The courteous master hears, and thus replies : 

"Without a vain, without a grudging heart, 
To him who gives us all, I yield a part ; 



THE HERMIT. 119 

From him you come, for him accept it here, 
A frank and sober, more than costly cheer." 
He spoke, and bid the welcome table spread, 
Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed, 
When the grave household round his hall repair, 
Warn'd by a bell, and close the hours with prayer. 

At length the world, renewed by calm repose, 
Was strong for toil, the dappled morn arose ; 
Before the pilgrims part, the younger crept 
Near the clos'd cradle where an infant slept, 
And writh'd his neck : the landlord's little pride, 
O strange return ! grew black, and gasp'd, and died, 
Horror of horrors ! what I his only son ! 
How look'd our Hermit when the fact was done! 
Not hell, though hell's black jaws in sunder part, 
And breathe blue fire, could more assault his heart, 

Confus'd, and struck with silence at the deed, 
He flies, but trembling fails to fly with speed. 
His steps the youth pursues ; the country lay 
Perplex'd with roads, a servant shew'd the way : 
A river cross'd the path ; the passage o'er 
Was nice to find ; the servant trod before ; 
Long arms of oaks an open bridge supplied, 
And deep the waves beneath the bending glide, 
The youth, who seem'd to watch a time to sin, 
Approach'dthe careless guide, and thrust him in : 



120 THE HERMIT. 

Plunging he falls, and rising lifts his head ; 
Then flashing turns, and sinks among the dead ! 

Wild, sparkling rage inflames the Father's eyes, 
t He bursts the bands of fear, and madly cries, 

* Detested wretch !" But scarce his speech began, 

When the strange partner seem'd no longer man : 
His youthful face grew more serenely sweet ; 
His robe turn'd white, and flowed upon his feet ; 
Fair rounds of radiant points invest his hair ; 
Celestial odors breathe through purpled air ; 
And wings, whose colors glittered on the day, 
Wide at his back their gradual plumes display. 
The form ethereal bursts upon his sight, 
And moves in all the majesty of light. 

Though loud at first the pilgrim's passion grew r 
Sudden he gaz'd and wist not what to do, 
Surprise in secret chains his words suspends, 
And in a calm his settling temper ends. 
But silence here the beauteous angel broke, 
(The voice of music ravish'd as he spoke.) 

" Thy pray'r, thy praise, thy life to vice unknowny 
In sweet memorial rise before the throne : 
These charms, success in our bright region find, 
And force an angel down to calm thy mind ; 
For this commission'd, I forsook the sky : 
Nay, cease to kneel — thy fellow servant I. 



THE HERMIT. 121 

" Then know the truth of government divine, 
And let these scruples be no longer thine. 

" The Maker justly claims that world he made. 
In this the right of Providence is laid ; 
Its sacred majesty through all depends 
On using second means to work his ends : 
'Tis thus, withdrawn in state from human eye 
The power exerts his attributes on high, 
Your actions uses, nor controls your will, 
And bids the doubting sons of men be still. 

" What strange events can strike with more surprise 
Than those which lately struck thy wond'ring eyes ! 
Yet taught by these, confess the Almighty just, 
And where you can't unriddle, learn to trust. 

" The great, vain man, who far'd on costly food, 
Whose life was too luxurious to be good ; 
Who made his ivory stands with goblets shine. 
And forc'd his guests to morning draughts of wine, 
Has, with the cup, the graceless custom lost, 
And still he welcomes, but with less of cost. 

" The mean, suspicious wretch, whose bolted door, 
Ne'er mov'd in duty to the wandering poor ; 
With him I left the cup, to teach his mind 
That Heav'n can bless, if mortals will be kind. 
Conscious of wanting worth, he views the bowl, 
And feels compassion touch his grateful soul. 



122 THE HERMIT: 

Thus artists melt the sullen oar of lead, 
With heaping coals of fire upon its head ; 
In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow* 
And, loose from dross, the silver runs below. 

" Long had our pious friend in virtue trod, 
But now the child half-wean'd his heart from God ; 
(Child of his age) for him he liv'd in pain, 
And measur'd back his steps to earth again. 
To what excesses had his dotage run 1 
But God, to save the father, took the son. 
To all but thee, in fits he seem'd to go, 
(And 'twas my ministry to deal the blow.) 
The poor fond parent, humbled in the dust, 
Now owns in tears the punishment was just. 

" But how had all his fortune felt a wrack, 
Had that false servant sped in safety back I 
This night his treasur'd heaps he meant to steal. 
And what a fund of charity would fail ! 

" Thus heav'n instructs thy mind : this trial o'er* 
Depart in peace, resign, and sin no more/' 

On sounding pinions here the youth withdrew* 
The sage stood wond'ring as the seraph flew. 
Thus look'd Elisha, when to mount on high 
His Master took the chariot of the sky ; 



THB HERMIT. 

The fiery pomp ascending left the view ; 
The prophet gaz'd, and wish'd to follow too. 

The bending Hermit here a pray'r begun, 
" Lord, as in heaven, on earth thy will be done" 
Then gladly turning, sought his ancient place, 
And pass'd a life of piety and peace. 



123 



LATELY PUBLISHED, 
BY JOHN EYRE, 

And Sold at 40 Fulton Street, 

The Christian Spectator ; comprising a Journey 
from England to America — two years in that Cts. 
State, Travels in America, &c 18 



The European Stranger in America, .... 25 

Together, (unbound) 37£ 

Bound, (together) 50 



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